Impact of fan type for reducing respirable dust at an underground limestone crushing facility

摘要

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have demonstrated that mine-wide ventilation in large-opening stone mines can be improved by using low-pressure, high-volume propeller fans and constructing stoppings in key locations to direct and control airflow. In light of these findings, a comparative study was conducted to determine if a portable diesel-powered propeller fan could perform more efficiently for dust dilution and transport than an axial vane fan for localized ventilation. The objective of this study is to evaluate both fan types for ventilation efficiency at an underground dump/crusher facility in a limestone mine. Results showed an improvement with the propeller fan to dilute both the respirable dust and the rvspirable silica dust around the dump/crusher facility. Overall, an average reduction of 20 percent in respirable dust and silica was observed at the dump/crusher location with the propeller fan.