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Abstract
The Dustron Series 100 Electrostatic Spray Emitter was evaluated in an underground hard rock mine. Two emitter nozzles were used in a drift where dust was produced by a crushing operation. The emitters were operated at a nozzle air pressure of 350 kPa and a water flow of 130 cc/min. Tests were conducted at ventilation air velocities ranging from 0.06 to 0.20 m/s corresponding, respectively, to residence times of 20 to 6 minutes between the dust source and the furthest sampling station located 73 m from the source. Results showed a maximum reduction of about 37.5 percent in airborne respirable dust when using the electrostatic sprays at an air velocity of 0.06 m/s. The sprays were also responsible for a substantial decrease in mass median aerodynamic diameter of the dust cloud. Airborne dust reduction is especially high for sizes ranging between 3.0 and 8.0 μm where the dust concentration was reduced by 50 to 60 percent.