Dust exposure remains a concern for workers in underground coal mines. In order to develop engineering controls to minimize exposure, dust dispersion characteristics and airflow patterns in the face area were investigated. Simulations were performed for a room-and-pillar mining system using a continuous miner (CM) equipped with a flooded-bed scrubber (FBS) in low and high mining heights of 2.4 m (8 ft) and 4.2 m (14 ft), respectively. Six cut types each with three air quantities at the end of the line curtain (ELC) were simulated (72 models total). Cut types modeled were: straight initial, straight deep, right turn crosscut (XC), XC right mine through, XC left head-on, and XC left mine through. Recirculation (RC) and low air velocity (LAV) zones were identified and air volume recirculating to the face was quantified.
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