Effects of Spray Surfactant and Particle Charge on Respirable Dust Control

描述（由申请人提供）： 项目摘要/摘要在开采不同类型的煤炭时产生的粉尘颗粒带有不同程度的静电荷。为了降低煤矿井下空气中可吸入粉尘的浓度，关键是要找出是否可以选择表面活性剂来优化喷雾对颗粒的捕获，这取决于粉尘颗粒上的电荷的符号和大小。这一研究方向的长期目标是通过改善工程控制技术来降低煤矿呼吸性粉尘浓度。该项目的目的是测量含有不同类型和浓度的表面活性剂的喷雾如何有效地收集携带各种静电荷的信号和大小的颗粒。为了实现这一目标，将建造一个试验装置来测量喷雾收集空气中颗粒的能力。该装置将围绕现有风洞建造，并将具有用于产生颗粒、将颗粒暴露于表面活性剂喷雾以及测量颗粒通过喷雾的效率的单独部分。该试验装置将用于测量含有不同类型表面活性剂的喷雾收集标准聚苯乙烯乳胶（PSL）球和煤尘的效率。几种类型和浓度的表面活性剂将用于水基喷雾剂。引入风洞的粉尘将带负电、正电或以双极方式充电，以允许测量每种表面活性剂捕获携带不同符号和静电荷水平的颗粒的效率。本研究中生成的数据将帮助矿山运营商根据他们正在开采的煤炭的特性，就喷雾系统中使用的表面活性剂类型做出明智的决定，以最大限度地实现粉尘捕集。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project Summary/Abstract Dust particles generated during the mining of different types of coal carry different levels of electrostatic charge. To reduce concentrations of airborne respirable dust in underground coal mines, it is critical to find out if surfactants can be chosen to optimize the capture of particles by sprays depending on the sign and magnitude of charge on the dust particles. The long-term goal of this line of research is to reduce respirable dust concentrations in coal mines by improving engineering control technology. The objective of this project is to measure how efficiently sprays containing different types and concentrations of surfactants collect particles carrying various signs and magnitudes of electrostatic charge. To accomplish this objective, a test apparatus will be constructed to measure the ability of sprays to collect airborne particles. This apparatus will be built around an existing wind tunnel and will have separate sections for generating particles, exposing the particles to surfactant sprays, and measuring the efficiency with which particles pass through the spray. The test apparatus will be used to measure the efficiency with which sprays containing different types of surfactants collect standard polystyrene latex (PSL) spheres and coal dust. Several types and concentrations of surfactants will be utilized in water-based sprays. The dust introduced into the wind tunnel will be charged negatively, positively, or in a bipolar manner to allow measurements of the efficiency with which each surfactant can capture particles carrying different signs and levels of electrostatic charge. The data generated in this study will help mine operators make informed decisions about the type of surfactant to use in spray systems to maximize dust capture depending on the characteristics of the coal they are mining.