Numerical simulation and an experimental test for the pneumatic spray dust reduction of the belt transshipment system

In order to address the problem of dust pollution at the transfer point of the coal transportation system, this paper carries out a numerical simulation on the dust diffusion law of the coal transportation system. The simulation results show that the dust concentration at the three openings in the transshipment point is the highest, and the farther away from the transshipment point, the lower the dust concentration. Depending on the simulation results, a pneumatic spray dust reduction scheme can be proposed by performing a field experiment. Based on the controlling variable experiments and existing studies, the parameters of pneumatic spray can be stated in the following way: the flowing rate should be laid out at 0.7 l/min, with its air velocity being 25 m/s and the working pressure being 0.6 MPa. The entire spray scheme can be verified through the computer simulation process. Thus, it can be calculated and determined that the spray scheme should be installed with four nozzles at the anterior end of the lower belt guide trough, with one nozzle at the back end and two nozzles at the upper belt feeding point. Eventually, the scheme has to be validated by the field experiments. Thus, the consequences of the on-spot experiment and test show that the scheme we have suggested is in a position to reduce the dust concentration effectively in the entire area of the transshipment point, bringing about the dust reduction rate over 90%.