Novosibirsk State Technical University has proposed effective ways to reduce the level of rock dust during quarrying. This will reduce the risks to human health and protect the mechanisms from damage.
Dustiness in production is dangerous for both people and machines. The people's health suffers: stone dust penetrates the bronchi and settles on the connective tissue. The lungs reduce oxygen absorption, carbon dioxide stays in them longer, pneumoconiosis, fibrosis and silicosis develop — occupational diseases that occur when inhaling industrial dust, of which silicosis is incurable. The mechanisms also quickly become unusable: the life of the engines is noticeably reduced, the intensity of corrosion increases, and failures in the control system occur.
The topic of excess dust is relevant for Siberia: 233 stone quarries operate here, 32 of them in the Novosibirsk region, which significantly worsens air quality and leads to negative consequences for the environment — dust spoils entire ecosystems. Most technological work in quarries, from drilling and explosions to loading rock mass, is accompanied by the formation of dust with a silicon dioxide content of SiO2 — 41%, with a density of 0.2 to 20 mg/m3, a substance that causes diseases, said Natalia Belousova, associate professor of the Department of Gas Dynamic Pulse Devices at NSTU-NETI, Candidate of Technical Sciences.
There are three classes of dust in total. The first is when the particles are more than 10 microns in size, they quickly settle on the surface, the soil and the walls of the mine are the surface of the rocks that limit the underground mine from the side.
The second class consists of particles from 10 to 0.1 microns, which are capable of being suspended for a long time in the production area. And the third class is particles less than 0.1 microns, which are constantly moving in the air and can spread over a considerable distance.
Scientists from NSTU-NETI have investigated the work of the Verkhnensky crushed stone plant and proposed the most effective ways to reduce the amount of industrial dust. These include water irrigation during transportation and unloading of rock, wet crushing and screening, as well as territory spilling. In addition, bag filters and cyclone dust collectors are used for dust suppression — devices for cleaning large volumes of dusty air. According to Natalia Belousova, such filters are used in industries with significant dust concentrations, such as asphalt and concrete plants, mineral extraction, laser cutting, etc.
Effective ways of dust suppression, according to scientists, are to control the movement of machinery: reducing the speed of transport at the quarry reduces the amount of dust raised, as well as proper storage and transportation of materials: closed containers and flaps during transportation prevent dust release.
In addition, according to Natalia Belousova, the fight against dust in quarries requires optimization of all work processes, constant air monitoring and the supply of personnel with special protective equipment.
Earlier, scientists at NSTU-NETI, as part of the Priority 2030 program, developed a plant-based dust suppressor that will reduce air pollution not only in mines and factories, but also on city streets.