Fundamental Investigation into the Interactions and Limitations of Primary Dust Controls for Continuous Miners

Details

• Personal Author:
  Colinet, Jay F. ; Jankowski, Robert A. ; McClelland, John J.
• Description:
  Laboratory tests were conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines to determine the respirable dust reduction effectiveness of and interaction between face airflow and water sprays for a continuous miner. Exhausting face ventilation was varied from 3,000 to 9,000 cfm (1.42 to 4.25 m3/sec). Spray-water-flow was varied from 15 to 35 gpm (0.057 to 0.132 m3/min), while nozzle operating pressure was varied from 80 to 200 psi (5,62 to 14.06 kg/cm2), Results from gravimetric dust samples indicated that airflow had the greatest individual impact on reducing dust levels, with return and operator concentrations reduced by as much as 57% and 99%, respectively. Interactions between dust control parameters were found to be significant. Often, these interactions defined a level of application for a control parameter where further increases in that parameter failed to produce additional reductions in dust concentrations. In several cases, increases in a control parameter resulted in higher dust levels at the operator's location. These higher dust levels were attributed to additional rollback and/or airflow turbulence. Regression modeling indicated that increases in airflow to 8,400 cfm (3.96 m3/sec), water flow to 25 gpm (0.095 m3/min), and water pressure to 140 psi (9.84 kg/cm2) typically were beneficial at the operator and return sampling locations. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dust Mining Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Continuous Mining Dust Control Dust Control Equipment Dust Particles Dusts Dust Suppression Mining Equipment Mining Industry Respirable Dust Underground Mines Underground Mining Water Sprays

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISBN:
  9780873350983
• Publisher:
  Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 8 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PRC - Pittsburgh Research Center
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  203-212
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049426
• Citation:
  Respirable dust in the mineral industries, proceedings of the 3rd symposium on respirable dust in the mineral industries, October 17-19, 1990, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Frantz RL, Ramani RV, eds. Littleton, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 1991 Jan; :203-212
• Contact Point Address:
  J, F. Colinet, Pittsburgh Research Center, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA
• Editor(s):
  Frantz RL; Ramani RV
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1992
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Respirable dust in the mineral industries, proceedings of the 3rd symposium on respirable dust in the mineral industries, October 17-19, 1990, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b970500982625b3f2d3181e975f5ddb45e2cf2b060682124d53dbeafec243b874746228619d78b8d91ddeb305329b4c902cd916bd43a259ef07c0263a604e9f9
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/228375/cdc_228375_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.34 MB ]