System, method and apparatus for upgrading a pulverizer

A method for increasing the capacity of a vertical spindle pulverizer, comprising the steps of:

• removing a cover from a journal opening in the pulverizer to access a grinding zone of the pulverizer;
• removing a first journal assembly having a generally toroidal grinding roll from the pulverizer through the journal opening;
• removing a plurality of generally toroidal table segments from a grinding table of the pulverizer;
• installing a plurality of generally inclined bull ring segments on the grinding table;
• installing a second journal assembly having a conical grinding roll in the pulverizer;
• and
• replacing the cover over the journal opening.

A vertical spindle pulverizer, comprising:

• a housing having a shaft coupled for rotation therein;
• a grinding table rotatably mounted on the shaft, the grinding table having a plurality of generally flat bull ring segments that have been retrofit onto the grinding table in place of generally toroidal table segments;
• a journal assembly pivotally mounted on the pulverizer housing;
• and
• a generally conical grinding roll coupled to the journal assembly;
• wherein the journal assembly and grinding roll are retrofit into the pulverizer in place of an existing journal assembly having a generally toroidal grinding roll.