Optimization of spraying dust reduction technology of continuous miner machine and the dust environment in a tunnel, based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology

Abstract

We aimed to solve the problem of excessive dust concentration during the tunneling process of continuous mining. According to the analysis, the optimal nozzle was an X-type 2.0-mm nozzle, and the optimal layout was eight nozzles on the upper side of the cutting arm of a continuous miner machine, along with three nozzles on the left side, three nozzles on the right side, and four nozzles on the lower side. The spraying pressure was 6 MPa, and the spray flow rate was 2.484 L/s. The field application was carried out in the continuous mining tunnel of Jinjitan Coal Mine, China. During the field application, the total dust concentration was reduced to 16.9 mg/m3, the respirable dust concentration was reduced to 5.3 mg/m3, and the dust reduction rate was more than 89.2%. As a result, the problem of dust pollution in the continuous mining tunnel was effectively solved.