Dust Control for Cutter Machines

摘要

The purpose of this program was to investigate the feasibility of wet and dry dust control techniques for controlling respirable dust generated by an underground mining cutter machine; to recommend the most practical wet and dry dust control system; and to fabricate, retrofit, and test the recommended dust control system. The program was divided into three phases. During phase I, three wet and two dry prototype dust control systems were designed. Because of a contract amendment, all work was suspended on the wet control system; therefore, phase II consisted of fabricating and laboratory testing one dry dust collection system. Laboratory tests included dust pickup capability and filter life. Phase III consisted of a field evaluation of the dry dust control system retrofitted to a Joy 15RU cutter machine in a salt mine. For the mine faces analyzed, reduction of dust concentration averaged 67 pct, with a system airflow of 4,000 cubic ft/min. Filter life was unsatisfactory. A self-cleaning dry dust collector was recommended as more suitable for cutter machine application because of the large quantity of dust.