Effects of atomization parameters of dust removal nozzles on the de-dusting results for different dust sources

In order to obtain appropriate spray pressure and enhance the spraying and dust removal efficiency, various factors including the dust characteristics, nozzle spraying angle, effective spraying range, water consumption and droplet size are taken into account. The dust characteristics from different mines and atomization parameters of different pressure nozzles were measured. It was found that the internal pressure of coal cutters and roadheaders should be kept at 2 MPa, which could ensure large droplet size, large spraying angle and low water consumption and hence realizing a large-area covering and capture for large particle dusts. However, the external spray pressure should be kept at 4 MPa for smaller droplet size and longer effective spraying range, leading to effective dust removal in the operator zone. The spray pressure of support moving, drawing opening, and stage loader on a fully mechanized caving face and stage loader on a fully mechanized driving face should be kept at 8 MPa, under which the nozzles have long effective spraying range, high water flow and small droplet size for the rapid capture of instantaneous, high-concentration and small size dust groups. From the applications on the caving and driving faces in the coal mines, it is indicated that the optimization of spray pressure in different spraying positions could effectively enhance dust removal efficiency. Selecting appropriate nozzles according to the dust characteristics at different positions is also favorable for dust removal efficiency. With the selected nozzles under optimal pressures, the removal rates of both total dust and respirable dust could reach over 70%, showing a significant de-dusting effect.