Evaluation of a Water-Type Dust Collector at an Underground Crushing Operation

Abstract

A self-induced wet dust collector operating at 8.7 m3/sec was evaluated at a crushing station in an underground hard rock mine. The new dust collector replaced a baghouse dust collector. The unit was evaluated for dust removal efficiency as a function of particle size. Performance also was assessed by comparing airborne respirable dust in the general area prior to and after installation of the new collector system. The use of cascade impactors and optical particle counters at the intake and the exhaust of the dust collector revealed a high efficiency (>90%) for particles greater than 2.0 µm in size. The efficiency dropped to approximately 70% and 25% for 1.0 µm and 0.5 µm particles, respectively. The overall respirable dust reduction in the immediate crusher vicinity was measured with 10-mm nylon cyclones and another type of personal dust sampler designed by the Mining Research Laboratory in Elliot Lake, Ontario. The results showed an average respirable dust reduction of 51% with a maximum of 64% in some areas. For respirable silica dust, the average reduction was higher at 70% with maxima of up to 79%.