Study of dust pollution control effect based on orthogonal test and CFD numerical simulations

Area of Science:

• Mining Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Coal dust poses significant health risks to miners.
• Tunnel boring operations generate high concentrations of airborne dust.
• Effective dust control is crucial for miner safety and regulatory compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and optimize ventilation parameters for controlling coal dust diffusion.
• To minimize health and safety threats posed by coal dust in tunnel boring environments.
• To establish optimal settings for pressure airflow rate and air duct positioning.

Main Methods:

• Combined theoretical analysis, numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and field measurements.
• Employed an orthogonal test design to evaluate four key ventilation parameters: airflow rate (Q), and distances L_A, L_B, and L_C.
• Validated the optimized parameters in a real-world tunnel boring application (Wangpo 3206 working face).

Main Results:

• Identified optimal ventilation parameters: Q=1400 m³/min, L_A=7 m, L_B=2.8 m, L_C=1 m.
• Demonstrated significant reduction in coal dust diffusion under optimized conditions.
• Confirmed substantial improvement in tunnel air quality after implementation.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully determined optimal ventilation parameters for effective coal dust control.
• The findings provide a practical solution for enhancing safety in underground mining operations.
• Optimized ventilation significantly mitigates health risks associated with coal dust exposure for miners.