Evaluation of a continuous miner half-curtain dust control system in a South African underground coal mine

Abstract

The project was planned in two phases. The first phase involved laboratory tests on a continuous miner model for different ventilation and spray systems at the newly built ventilation simulation tunnel at the Klopperbos research centre. In the second phase of the project, tests were carried out underground based on the findings and recommendations from the simulated tests. This paper focuses on the results and findings for the half-curtain system which have been encouraging. The average dust concentration for the sampling period at the operator’s position for the half-curtain system was 3.20 mg/m3. On the other hand, the equivalent average dust concentration (TWA-CONC) for the half-curtain system for a 8-h period was 2.04 mg/m3. The outcome of this project has shown that the regulatory dust level of <5 mg/m3 can be achieved through close collaboration with all the interested parties.