Different modes of dust testing for bulk solids

The loss of dust from the mining, processing, storage, handling, transportation and loading of bulk materials is creating an increasing number of problems for industry and the community. This includes loss of valuable material and export income, increasing workplace dust emissions (e.g. from mine sites, loading, receival, ports, bulk berths) and decreasing ambient air quality and human health, especially for nearby communities. It is virtually impossible to estimate the total cost of these problems to industry and the community. An initial key step in addressing dust problems is to quantify the dustiness or dustability of bulk materials. This paper examines three different methods for testing dustiness. The first two methods are the rotating drum style dustiness testers that can be used to determine the Dust Extinction Moisture (DEM) for a bulk solid. They are the Australian standard AS4156.6 "Determination of Dust/moisture Relationship for Coal [1] and the International standard I.S. EN15051 "Measurement of the Dustiness of Bulk Materials - Requirements and Reference Test Methods" [2]. The third method is simulating conveyor belt conditions in a wind tunnel to determine dust pick-up or lift-off velocity. All three methods can be useful tools in the design of new plant and also the modification of existing plant to reduce dust generation.