NIOSHTIC-2 No. 20024166


Investigation of Longwall Face Ventilation Air-Splitting Methods for Improved Dust Control

1999

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Two types of airflow splitting methods for improving longwall dust control were investigated by NIOSH's Pittsburgh Research Laboratory. These methods included a translucent mesh barrier and a staged spray barrier system to confine the shearer-generated dust to the coal extraction side of the longwall face while maintaining a cleaner split of airflow on the opposing worker walkway side of the longwall face. The translucent mesh barrier was shown to provide notable dust control effectiveness up to 60 m downstream of the shearer in both the laboratory experiments and a longwall field evaluation, provided the mesh barrier remains relatively parallel to the airflow. The staged spray barrier system showed marginal dust control effectiveness in the laboratory and subsequently was not field tested

Author(s):Organiscak-JA
Reference:Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Annual Meeting, SME preprint 99B5. Littleton, CO, 1999 :1-14

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Page last updated: September 17, 2008
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mining Division