Improved Shearer-Clearer System for Double-Drum Shearers on Longwall Faces

摘要

The report includes information on installation and use of the improved shearer-clearer system and describes a field installation and 3-week underground test of the system. The improved shearer-clearer, like its predecessor, reduces dust concentrations in the shearer operator's walkway by splitting the airflow on the upwind side of the shearer and confining the dust cloud to the face side of the shearer. The improved shearer-clearer system utilizes more practical-mounting locations for the water sprays and requires less water consumption. In the underground test, the improved system maintained the clean-air split in the walkway up to 40 ft downstream from the shearer. To further improve dust suppression, cooling-water manifolds were relocated into the loading zone.