Effects of dust controls on respirable coal mine dust composition and particle sizes:case studies on auxiliary scrubbers and canopy air curtain

Control of dust in underground coal mines is critical for mitigating both safety and health hazards.For decades,the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH)has led research to evaluate the effectiveness of various dust control technologies in coal mines.Recent studies have included the evaluation of auxiliary scrubbers to reduce respirable dust downstream of active mining and the use of canopy air curtains(CACs)to reduce respirable dust in key operator positions.While detailed dust characterization was not a focus of such studies,this is a growing area of interest.Using preserved filter samples from three previous NIOSH studies,the current work aims to explore the effect of two different scrubbers(one wet and one dry)and a roof bolter CAC on respirable dust composition and particle size distribution.For this,the preserved filter samples were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis and/or scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray.Results indicate that dust composition was not appreciably affected by either scrubber or the CAC.However,the wet scrubber and CAC appeared to decrease the overall particle size distribution.Such an effect of the dry scrubber was not consistently observed,but this is probably related to the particular sampling location downstream of the scrubber which allowed for significant mixing of the scrubber exhaust and other return air.Aside from the insights gained with respect to the three specific dust control case studies revisited here,this work demonstrates the value of preserved dust samples for follow-up investigation more broadly.

EXPERIMENT OF SMOKE-PREVENTING AIR CURTAINS IN HIGH-RISE BUILDING FIRES

In high-rise building fires, the most immediate threat to passenger life and safety evacuation is the smoke inhalation. Some traditional models for smoke prevention and exhaust are analyzed and compared with the smoke-preventing air curtain. The rationality and the feasibility of the air curtain are theoretically expounded. The air volume, tuyere width and jet velocity in the air curtain experiment are designed according to the theoreti- cal calculation model. Experimental results indicate that the effect of air curtain to prevent smoke diffusion is re- markable as the volume ratio of air-smoke is about 0. 6, the jet angle is between 25^o and 35^o, and the jet thickness is between 25 mm and 45 mm. The efficiency of air curtain can reach 98% on the entraining effect. Meanwhile, experiments verify the theorectical calculation.

Airflow characteristics by air curtain jets in full-scale room

A new air distribution pattern,air curtain jet ventilation was presented.The ventilation or airflow patterns and the air velocity produced by air curtain jet were investigated in detail.To identify the airflow characteristics of this novel air curtain jet ventilation system,a full-scale room was used to measure the jet velocity with a slot-ventilated supply device,with regards to the airflow fields along the vertical wall as well as on the horizontal floor zones.The airflow fields under three supply air velocities,1.0,1.5 and 2.0 m/s,were carried out in the full-scale room.The experimental results show the velocity profiles of air distribution,the airflow fields along the attached vertical wall and the air lake zones on the floor,respectively.The current experimental research is helpful for heating,ventilation and air conditioning(HVAC) engineers to design better air distribution in rooms.

Laboratory results of a 3rd generation roof bolter canopy air curtain for respirable coal mine dust control

Testing was completed on an earlier roof bolter CAC that used slots to provide a perimeter airflow. NIOSH tested it due to its unique design that differed from canopies that provided uniform airflow. Based upon NIOSH recommendations from the earlier testing, a 3rd generation roof bolter CAC has been developed by J.H. Fletcher & Co. The changes to this CAC involve design modifications to the plenum outlets, using a single row of outlets on the perimeter and a different material for the plenum. This laboratory testing was a continuation of the original perimeter slotted CAC design. Using gravimetric and instantaneous sampling of respirable dust concentrations underneath and outside of the CAC. the laboratory testing was completed using three different blower fans that delivered differing airflows. The maximum plenum airflow velocities ranged from 2.34 to 3.64 m/s (460-716 fpm). Results showed plenum respirable dust concentrations ranging from 34.6% to 49.3% lower than respirable dust concentrations outside the plenum protection zone, thus showing an improvement in protection for the roof bolter operators.

Laboratory testing of a shuttle car canopy air curtain for respirable coal mine dust control

Canopy air curtain （CAC） technology has been developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health （NIOSH） for use on continuous miners and subsequently roof bolting machines in underground coal mines to protect operators of these machines from overexposure to respirable coal mine dust. The next logical progression is to develop a CAC for shuttle cars to protect operators from the same overexposures. NIOSH awarded a contract to Marshall University and J.H. Fletcher to develop the shuttle car CAC. NIOSH conducted laboratory testing to determine the dust control efficiency of the shuttle car CAC. Testing was conducted on two different cab configurations： a center drive similar to that on a Joy 10SC32AA cab model and an end drive similar to that on a Joy 10SC32AB cab model. Three different ventilation velocities were tested-0.61, 2.0, 4.3 rrds （120, 400, and 850 fpm）. The lowest, 0.61 m/s （120 fpm）, represented the ventilation velocity encountered during loading by the continuous miner, while the 4.3 m/s （850 fpm） velocity represented ventilation velocity airflow over the shuttle car while tramming against ventilation airflow. Test results showed an average of the dust control efficiencies ranging from 74 to 83% for 0.61 m/s （120 fpm）, 39%-43% for 2.0 m/s （400 fpm）, and 6%-16% for 4.3 m/s （850 fpm）. Incorporating an airflow spoiler to the shuttle car CAC design and placing the CAC so that it is located 22.86 cm （9 in.） forward of the operator improved the dust control efficiency to 51%-55% for 4.3 m/s （850 fpm） with minimal impact on dust control efficiencies for lower ventilation velocities. These laboratory tests demonstrate that the newly developed shuttle car CAC has the potential to successfully protect shuttle car operators from coal mine respirable dust overexposures.

Field study results of a 3rd generation roof bolter canopy air curtain for respirable coal mine dust control

A 3rd generation roof bolter canopy air curtain(CAC)has been developed and constructed by J.H.Fletcher&Co.,Inc.As with the previous generation of the CAC,this design uses the principle of providing uniform airflow across the canopy area as recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.The new modifications include a plenum that is constructed of a single flat aluminum plate,smaller-diameter airflow openings,and a single row of perimeter nozzles designed to prevent mine air contaminated by respirable dust from entering the CAC protection zone.Field testing was conducted on this new 3rd generation design showing reductions in coal mine respirable dust exposure for roof bolter operators.Dust control efficiencies for the CAC for the left bolter operator(intake side)ranged from approximately 26%–60%,while the efficiencies for the CAC for the right bolter operator(return side)ranged from 3%to 47%.

Numerical simulation of dust distribution at a fully mechanized face under the isolation effect of an air curtain

At a fully mechanized working face of a coal mine as prototype,we investigated,by simulation,the flow field and dust distribution during the process of its isolation by a curtain of air,using the CFD software, Fluent.The results show that the air curtain installed on the shearer can effectively prevent the dust （especially the respirable dust）from diffusing into the work area of the operator,reducing the dust concentration on the side of the operator and greatly improving his working environment.The field application of the air curtain shows that the dust-isolation effect of an air curtain is quite noticeable.The isolation efficiency for respiratory dust is over 70%and,as well,it has good dust-isolation effect for nonrespiratory dust.The air curtain is a useful way to resolve the problem of dust-isolation at a fully mechanized working face.It has a practical background elsewhere with more extensive applications.

Effect of suppressing dust by multi-direction whirling air curtain on fully mechanized mining face

A combined method of numerical simulation and field testing was adopted in this study in the interest of solving the problem of hard to control high concentrate dusts on a fully mechanized mining face. In addi- tion, the dust suppression effect of a multi-direction whirling air curtain was studied in this paper. Under the influence of the wall attachment effect, the compressed air which blows out from the two-phase or three-phase radial outlets on the generator of the air curtain can form a multi-direction whirling air curtain, which can cover the whole roadway section of a fully mechanized mining face. The traditional method of controlling dust is a forcing system with exhaust overlap which has the major disadvantage of lacking a jet effect and consequently results in poor dust control. It is difficult to form the air flow field within the range of Lp ≤ 5√S. However, due to the effect of this novel system, the radial airflow can be turned into axial airflow allowing fresh air to flow through the length of the heading. The air flow field which is good at controlling dust diffusion can be formed 12.8 m from the heading face. Furthermore, the field measurement results show that before the application of a multi-direction whirling air curtain, the dust concentration is 348.6 mg/m^3 and 271.4 mg/m^3 respectively at the roadway cross-section measurement points which are 5 m and 10 m from the heading face. However, after the application of the multi-direction whirling air curtain, the dust concentration is only 61.2 mg/m3 and 14.8 mg/m^3, respectively. Therefore, the dust control effect of a multi-direction whirling air curtain is obvious.

Study on Design of Pressure Chamber in a Linear-Jet Type Air Curtain System for Prevention of Smoke Spread

Death toll by smoke in fire is estimated at 70% which emphasizes the importance of smoke control system to deal with the fire smoke. In advanced countries, the studies on method to prevent smoke spread by forming the air curtain using high velocity jet flow are underway now. In this study, a linear-jet type air curtain system is proposed to prevent the smoke spread and analysis of flow characteristics of pressure chamber, which is the core component, is conducted through numerical analysis and experimental approach. Consequently, the pressure was increased in 2D functional way to input air flowrate and about 595 Pa pressure was formed at pressure chamber inlet in response to 30 m/s nozzle jet velocity.

Numerical Simulation and Experimental Research on Indoor Environment Separated with Down-Feed Air Curtain

Indoor environment separated with down-feed air curtain was numerically simulated and experimen-tally researched. Indoor airflow and temperature fields separated with air curtain were numerically simulated. Re-sults show that both polluted airflow and thermal air current can be separated with a down-feed air curtain to pre-vent contaminants from spreading in the room space. In a test chamber, the smoke of burning Tibetan incense served as the source of contaminants, and the probe test shows that 1.0 μm is the prevailing diameter of the smoke particles. During the release of the smoke, the particle concentration of the indoor air was tested with a laser particle counter at the points of three different heights from the floor when the air curtain was running or not. Experimental results show that the higher the test point is located, the lower the particle concentration is, implying that the sepa-rating or isolating effect decreases as the air velocity of the curtain reduces along with the height descends. Accord-ing to both simulation and experimental results, down-feed air curtain can separate indoor environment effectively when the supply air velocity of air curtain is not less than 3 m/s. In order to strengthen separation effect, it is sug-gested that the supply air velocity be speeded up to 5 m/s.

Thermal partition of two asymmetric discrete heat sources by cold air curtain

A partition solution implemented by a cold air curtain for two asymmetric discrete heat sources in a twodimensional rectangular enclosure was numerically studied. Main attentions were focused on the effects of Reynolds number, Grashof number, separation distance between heat sources, and buoyancy ratio. It is found that the airflow and heat transfer are not only determined by governing parameters, but also affected by boundary conditions. It is also found that nearly symmetry of flow structure corresponds to nearly thermal partition, and the symmetry can be enhanced when Reynolds number, separation distance and buoyancy ratio increase. In addition, it is observed that there is a minimum Reynolds number for obtaining nearly thermal partition, which increases when Grashof number increases.

气幕均匀性影响因素及其隔尘效果研究

近年来,空气幕作为一种有效隔绝易于扩散粉尘的装置,被频繁地用于矿山、隧道施工过程中产尘较多的场所,而均匀的气幕会带来更佳的隔尘效果。运用Fluent数值模拟结合相似实验的方法分析了气幕直径和气幕内部风道结构变化对气幕均匀性的影响,并将设计后可以均匀供风的气幕安装在实际施工隧道模型中模拟分析其隔尘效果。结果表明:直径增加,供风装置内气流轴向惯性力降低,有充足的时间改变流出方向,气幕装置轴向静压更加均匀,形成气幕更加均匀,但直径的变化对气幕均匀性的影响不是线性变化的,即存在一个临界直径使直径继续增加对均匀性的改善效果不明显,并且气幕临近直径的范围会随供风装置长度的增加而增加;在长度1 m、临界直径180 mm的气幕装置基础上,依据风道设计原理安装计算出的弧高为149.9 mm的楔形扇面阻体后,气幕装置内部平均压力梯度从38.4 Pa/m降低到19.3 Pa/m,出口风速均匀度从87.6%提高到93.2%,气幕均匀性显著提升;安装气幕后,隔尘区域内回弹的含尘气流被阻隔,区域内风流变得混乱复杂、涡流增加,粉尘停留时间增加,相对较大的粉尘颗粒有更长的时间沉降。整个隔尘区域粉尘浓度明显升高,气幕隔尘效果显著。

附壁旋流风幕集尘系统数值模拟与试验研究

大型设备工作时产生的粉尘浓度过高、粉尘扩散等问题,会影响工作人员的身体健康,甚至可能造成“粉尘爆炸”等安全问题。基于此现状提出了一种新型风幕集尘系统并介绍了其构造及应用。为了使系统的集尘效果更好,采用计算流体力学FLUENT软件进行数值模拟分析并对风幕集尘系统的工作参数进行了试验研究,得到最佳的设备工作参数及风幕的集尘效率。结果表明:(1)附壁旋流集尘风幕系统可形成稳定的螺旋风流场,大部分粉尘可以控制在风幕内侧,达到良好的集尘效果;(2)附壁旋流风幕集尘系统的射流腔条缝口的喷射角度对风幕形成效果影响最明显,风幕闭合性会随着射流腔工作角度变化而变化;(3)当射流腔条缝口角度为45°、风幕入口速度为15~25 m/s时,风幕的闭合性最好;(4)风幕的入口速度过大或过小都会使风幕的集尘效果下降;(5)吸尘盘的负压区域与风幕交界处会产生微弱湍流,但对风幕整体闭合性影响较小;(6)模拟与试验结果吻合,验证了新型附壁旋流集尘风幕技术的有效性。

综掘工作面风流调控装置与射流风幕综合调控粉尘场优化分析

为解决目前综掘工作面传统混合式通风下粉尘聚集污染严重的问题,提出了利用出风口风流调控装置与抽风口射流风幕综合调控优化粉尘场的思路。以陕北某矿综掘工作面为研究对象,建立了风流-粉尘气固耦合场有限元模型,分析了调控装置口径、调控装置右偏角、风幕出口宽度、风幕出口速度及风幕出口张角等参数对粉尘场的影响;设计了正交试验以确定最佳综合调控方案,设计搭建了实验平台进行综合调控方案准确性和降尘效果验证。结果表明:在该综掘工作面通风系统布局下,当调控装置口径1.2 m,调控装置右偏角9°,风幕出口宽度0.14 m,风幕出口速度7 m/s,风幕出口张角60°时,司机位置粉尘质量浓度和行人呼吸带高度平均粉尘质量浓度分别降低91.7%和74.9%,测试误差均在10%以下,有效改善了通风环境。

半封闭空间单侧冷风幕效应数值模拟研究

受外部冷空气影响,寒区隧道冻害问题日益严重,为阻止外部冷空气流入隧道,提出以外部空气为空气源的冷风幕隔冷方式,并开展半封闭空间单侧设置冷风幕阻隔外部冷空气流动换热过程的数值模拟研究。数值模拟模型设置参考相关室内试验,通过室内试验测试数据对数值模型进行验证后,利用数值模型研究风幕射流角度、射流速度、射流宽度对热压作用下冷风流入半封闭空间阻隔效果的影响。结果表明:射流角度为3°时,形成风幕形态较理想,半封闭空间平均温度较无风幕作用时有4~5℃的提高,此时增加风幕速度或宽度均会强化外部冷空气与半封闭空间内空气的换热,减弱风幕隔冷效果;射流角度为6°或9°时,风幕射流宽度需要与射流速度匹配,否则易出现风幕形态不理想,导致风幕隔冷失效。

神东矿区立体帷幕注浆精准堵漏风与高效防灭火技术

为高效治理神东矿区浅埋藏煤层开采漏风引起的煤自燃隐患,以大柳塔煤矿活鸡兔井12_上、12_下煤层工作面为研究对象,通过立体帷幕注浆的方式进行精准堵漏风与防灭火工程示范。首先利用地质剖面移动角计算注浆距离,并设计注浆平面布置,同时针对不同地质情况,设计了先导钻孔、注浆钻孔和监测钻孔;根据活鸡兔井实际情况,共施工104个钻孔,设计帷幕体长度约1020 m,高度约40 m;通过分段上行式注浆法,设计工作面切眼外侧注浆高度72 m,12_上205运输巷段注浆高度12 m,注浆宽度15 m,总注浆169569.1 m^(3)。通过立体帷幕注浆,12_下205工作面漏风较同条件下最大减少约1000 m^(3)/min,12_下207工作面漏风较同条件下最大减少近800m^(3)/min;堵漏风效果明显,有效降低12_下煤层工作面煤自燃隐患。

进水池吸气涡控制方法

以进水池模型为研究对象,探索有效的吸气涡控制方法,基于计算流体动力学(CFD)技术,分析消波板与幕墙2种方法对吸气涡的抑制效果,并重点研究关键几何参数的影响.采用开源CFD软件OpenFOAM进行数值模拟,基于三方程的Bifurcation湍流模型求解湍流场以及CLSVOF方法捕捉气液交界面,从吸气涡形态、涡量、流线和出口吸气率等多角度对计算结果进行处理和对比分析.研究结果表明:深度为0.25 D 1的幕墙可以有效抑制进水池吸气涡,且吸气率可降低一半;随着幕墙深度增大,吸气率上升;参考海洋工程领域提出的消波板仅能推迟吸气涡的出现与发展,但无法起到抑制作用;在消波板中心位置和长度不变的情况下,改变消波板宽度均对吸气涡无明显抑制效果.研究结果可为进水池及相关工程设施优化设计提供一定的借鉴和参考.

综掘工作面气室降尘技术研究

针对掘进巷道中的粉尘控制问题,传统的长压短抽通风降尘技术存在粉尘扩散区域大、风幕降尘技术存在射流孔易堵塞等弊端。以巴拉素煤矿综掘工作面为工程研究背景,建立了掘进作业过程中的粉尘运动数学模型,得出降低综掘工作面粉尘浓度的关键因素是控制掘进巷道风流场扰动范围及减小粉尘颗粒运动时间。以上述关键因素为依据,在风幕降尘的基础上开发了气室降尘技术,通过在正压风筒末端加装风袖,与风幕共同作用将粉尘封闭在气室区域内,再由负压风机抽出,以提高降尘效率。采用Fluent软件对长压短抽通风降尘、风幕降尘和气室降尘进行模拟对比分析,并优化了气室降尘技术参数。模拟结果表明:采用气室降尘技术时,综掘工作面人体呼吸带位置的粉尘浓度为350 mg/m^(3),较采用长压短抽通风降尘时的600 mg/m^(3)和风幕降尘时的480 mg/m^(3)大幅降低;气室降尘最优技术参数为正压风筒出风口距综掘工作面14 m、负压风筒末端直径0.6 m。在巴拉素煤矿2号煤2号回风大巷综掘工作面进行现场试验,结果表明采用气室降尘时,掘进巷道最低粉尘浓度为118 mg/m^(3),低于采用长压短抽通风降尘时的184 mg/m^(3)和风幕降尘时的156 mg/m^(3),且降尘效率较长压短抽通风降尘平均提高54.8%。

风幕精准送风参数制丝线对温湿度模拟研究

随着卷烟制丝加工技术进步和对烟草品质的需求,环境温湿度对制丝加工过程质量有重要影响。为了保持制丝生产线上的烟丝水分和温度的稳定性,论文提出一种风幕隔离方法阻止烟丝输运过程中水分蒸发并维持温度稳定,主要研究风幕送风参数对制丝车间和制丝线温湿度影响,计算结果显示在制丝线上能够有效地形成均匀的风幕,且风幕未端风速大于0.5m/s,风幕的存在能够有效地保持烟丝水分蒸发和温度的稳定,保证烟丝的品质。

综掘工作面风幕阻尘效果影响因素研究

目前综掘工作面粉尘污染的研究多集中于单一因素对综掘工作面风幕阻尘效果的影响,而未充分考虑各因素间的交互作用,使得压风分流技术的工程应用效果欠佳。为明确附壁风筒径向出风距离、径向出风比及轴向出风距离对风幕阻尘效果的影响,以潘三矿810西翼机巷综掘工作面为研究对象,运用Fluent软件对径向出风距离为10~25 m、径向出风比为0.6~0.9及轴向出风距离为6~12 m条件下的风流分布和粉尘扩散情况进行数值模拟。结果表明:(1)随着径向出风距离增大,径向涡流风幕在巷道内的转变更充分,综掘机司机前端的风流分布越均匀,更有利于形成风速方向均指向工作面的轴向阻尘风幕。当径向出风距离为10 m时,距工作面7 m断面内涡流特性明显,风速方向紊乱;当径向出风距离为25 m时,距工作面7 m断面内,风流分布趋于均匀,风速方向均指向工作面,形成了能够覆盖全断面的轴向阻尘风幕。(2)随着径向出风比增大,整流风筒轴向风流风量减小,轴向风流风速和射流强度降低,轴向风流对综掘工作面前端气流的扰动减弱;径向出风比越大,越有利于形成风流方向指向工作面且能覆盖全断面的轴向阻尘流场,即轴向阻尘风幕。(3)径向涡流风幕的阻尘能力随径向出风比的增大先增强后减弱,轴向阻尘风幕的阻尘能力随径向出风比的增大而不断增强。(4)在采取压风分流风幕阻尘技术后,当压风总量为300 m^(3)/min,吸风量为400 m^(3)/min,附壁风筒径向出风距离为20 m,径向出风比为0.9,整流风筒轴向出风距离为8~10 m时,能很好地将粉尘聚集在吸尘口附近,达到高效控尘除尘的目的。在810西翼机巷综掘工作面进行现场测试,测点风速和粉尘质量浓度实测值与模拟值基本一致,高浓度粉尘被有效阻控于工作面前端,隔尘效果较为明显,验证了数值模拟的有效性。