A Hybrid Method for Identifying Critical Failure Modes in a Ball Mill

Authors

  • Adesola Akintola Pan African University (PAUSTI)/Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)
  • Onesmus Mutuku Muvengei
  • James Kuria Kimotho
  • Anthony Kariuki Muchiri

Keywords:

FMEA, FMECA, COPRAS-G, Reliability Engineering, Mineral Processing

Abstract

The reliability of a ball mill is crucial for the seamless operation of ore processing and other industrial plants, where unexpected equipment failure or downtime can result in significant financial losses and reduced production efficiency. Thus, this paper examined a hybrid method for identifying critical failure modes in a ball mill using the Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis combined with the Complex Proportional Assessment with
Grey Numbers (COPRAS-G). The COPRAS-G method was employed to assess the criticality of various failure modes by determining the weights of significant failure modes in the bearing, gearbox, motor, and shaft components of a ball mill. It was observed that gear seal failure is the most critical failure with percentage contribution (Ni) of 100%, while bearing wear is the least critical failure with percentage contribution (Ni) of 62%. The result suggests that failure
modes of gear seal failure, gear pitting, motor bearing fatigue, and shaft fracture are regarded as the main contributors to failure with percentage contribution (Ni) of 100%, 97%, 87% and 83% respectively. Current ball mill maintenance includes corrective, preventive and predictive maintenance. For failure modes with high criticality, predictive maintenance was advised, while for moderate and low criticality, corrective and preventive maintenance were advised.

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Published

2024-09-29