Innovative CDF Modelling Ling to Improve Dust Control in Longwalls

Reducing dust exposure of operators on longwall faces remains a challenging issue for mine managements. Most of the Australian mines are adopting uni-di cutting method to reduce operators dust exposure levels. Even in this uni-di cutting mode, the dust roll-up towards the walkway area is very high in most cases and is resulting in high dust exposure levels for shearer and chock operators. With the support of ACARP, CSIRO has been undertaking several research projects (C12025, C13019 and C14036) based upon CFD modelling to improve the understanding of dust flow patterns around the longwall shearer and walkway under different operating conditions, and the study of a range of dust control options/concepts for reducing operators dust exposure levels. During these simulation studies, a shearer scrubber system has shown to be capable of significantly modifying the airflow patterns around the maingate cutting drum and reducing dust roll-up towards the walkway area.