0.5%–2%　gross　power　generation　of　coal　power　plant　is　consumed　by　vertical　spindle　pulverizer　(VSP),　and　it　is　essential　to　select　a　VSP　with　better　operational　performance.　Simulated　studies　of　lab-scale　mills,　which　show　the　similar　breakage　mechanism　with　VSP,　and　industrial　sampling　on　VSPs　are　conducted　to　compare　energy　efficiencies　of　E　and　MPS　type　VSPs　(with　the　grinding　media　of　balls　and　tread　rollers,　respectively).　The　classical　energy-size　reduction　model　is　modified　with　the　addition　of　particle　size　in　the　exponential　form　to　compare　the　grinding　energy　efficiency　(product　fineness　for　the　certain　specific　energy)　of　two　lab-scale　mills.　Also,　differences　in　structure　and　operational　parameters　of　lab-scale　mills　are　considered.　For　the　industrial　sampling　tests　of　two　VSPs,　recorded　data　and　size　distribution　of　sampled　materials　are　preliminarily　compared.　Product　t10　is　selected　as　the　bridge　to　connect　the　specific　grinding　energy　and　size　distribution　of　products.　The　modified　breakage　model　is　combined　with　the　King＇s　equation　to　compare　the　energy　efficiency　on　the　premise　of　feed　in　the　same　fineness.　Comprehensive　comparison　of　the　results　obtained　from　both　lab-scale　and　industrial-scale　VSPs　suggests　that　the　MPS　type　VSP　shows　the　higher　grinding　energy　efficiency　and　lower　total　energy　consumption.　©　2017　Elsevier　Ltd