Milling apparatus and method

A system for grinding particulate material comprised of particles, the system comprising:

• a roller mill apparatus configured to grind particulate material passing through the roller mill apparatus, the roller mill apparatus comprising:
• a roller mill frame;
• and
• a pair of mill rolls rotatably mounted on the roller mill frame for rotation with respect to the roller mill frame, a gap being formed between the pair of mill rolls through which the particulate material passes;
• a motor assembly configured to rotate each of the mill rolls with respect to the roller mill frame such that each of the mill rolls has a rotational speed;
• a controller assembly configured to control aspects of operation of the roller mill apparatus, the controller assembly comprising:
• a size detection sensor configured to detect a particle size associated with particles of the particulate material passed through the gap between the pair of mill rolls;
• processing circuitry configured to compare a current particle size value with a target particle size value, the processing circuitry being configured to execute instructions to:
• compare the current particle size value to the target particle size value;
• and
• adjust a magnitude of a differential in rotational speeds of the mill rolls, the magnitude of adjustment being based upon the comparison of the current particle size value to the target particle size value to cause a future said current particle size value to move closer to the target particle size value, the processing circuitry being configured to execute instructions to:
• if the target particle size value is greater than the current particle size value, then cause the motor assembly to decrease a motor rotational speed differential value between the rotational speeds of the mill rolls by an increment value;
• and
• if the target particle size value is less than the current particle size value, then cause the motor assembly to increase the motor rotational speed differential value between the rotational speeds of the mill rolls by an increment value.