Numerical simulation of the effect of a wind-assisted spraying device during continuous mining

• Published in: Powder technology Vol. 428; p. 118803
• Main Authors: Xu, Changwei, Nie, Wen, Peng, Huitian, Liu, Fei, Yi, Shixing, Cha, Xingpeng, Li, Jianjun, Mwabaima, Felicie Ilele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Continuous mining; Dust pollution; Dust removal device; Numerical simulation; Spray dust reduction; Numerical simulation; Dust pollution; Continuous mining; Dust removal device; Spray dust reduction
• ISSN: 0032-5910; 1873-328X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2023.118803

The continuous mining face is the main dust-producing area in a coal mine. The dust produced endangers the physical and mental health of underground workers and increases their risk of pneumoconiosis. To improve the lack of spraying in the middle part of the continuous mining machine and the poor dust reduction effect, we developed a wind-assisted spraying device placed in the middle of the continuous mining machine. Spraying experiments have shown that a round nozzle with a 2.4-mm aperture containing an X-shaped guide core has a longer effective range and wider atomization angle. Numerical simulations have shown that when the spray pressure is 7 MPa, a dust reduction spray field with uniform droplet size distribution can be formed. After applying the spray parameters obtained in the coal mine field and using the dust removal device, the total dust concentration in the driver's area of the continuous mining machine was significantly reduced. [Display omitted] •A wind-assisted spraying device placed in the middle of the continuous mining machine was developed.•The atomization of a typical mining nozzle was analyzed by experiment.•Significant reduction of dust on site after application of wind-assisted spraying device