Dust distribution characteristics of the breathing zone in the walkway area of fully-mechanized mining face: a case study

To understand the dust distribution characteristics of fully mechanized mining faces, this study utilized the gravimetric method to sample dust in the walkway area during the coal cutting process of the shearer, followed by testing and analysis of the dust samples. The research findings reveal that the pollution level in the walkway area significantly surpasses coal mine safety regulations. There is no significant correlation between variations in dust concentration and dust quantity at different locations, with the region within 6 m behind the shearer exhibiting the highest dust quantity. The rate of change in respirable dust quantity is notably lower than that of non-respirable dust quantity. In all areas except those corresponding to the shearer, the number of dust particles within the range of 0 to 10 μm exceeds 90%. Additionally, dust particles on the mining face have smooth surfaces but are predominantly elongated in shape. These findings underscore the current inadequacies in effectively controlling dust in walkway areas. Therefore, there is a pressing need to implement more technological measures to control dust in these areas, with a specific emphasis on reducing the quantity of respirable dust, rather than solely focusing on variations in dust concentration.