Dust Suppression and Control in Underground Mines

Why Is Dust Suppression in Mining So Important?

Crushers, truck dumps, conveyor belt transfer points, transport loading and bin filling stations are all parts of a mining system where dust generation is excessive.

Whether it’s an underground coal mine or a surface mine, dust particles in the air can present a number of problems.

Dust can cause potential damage to machinery and equipment, slowing down operations and incurring unneeded maintenance and repair costs.

Dust in the atmosphere can also be incredibly perilous when mixed with gas, creating ignition hazards and high flammability scenarios.

As well as the above problems, coal dust is a known carcinogen that can cause miner’s lung disease, otherwise known as pneumoconiosis. This is just one more reason why preventative dust control and suppression in mining environments is so vital.

Mining Dust Suppression Products & Systems from Carroll Technologies

So how can mine owners suppress dust generation? Airflow control and efficient ventilation are essential to increase air quality. Coal mines especially rely on air filtration systems and mine sealants to keep dust particles at a safe level.

When it comes to mine sealants and dust suppression chemical products, Quaker Chemicals is leading the way with its effective mine foam spray.

Mine Foam is available through Carroll Technologies, experts in mine safety solutions and equipment suppliers to more than 800 mines across the US.

“Quaker Chemical is a well-established company and we’ve been representing them for some time. For the mining industry, they specialise in dust suppression chemicals,” explains Carroll Technologies president Allen Haywood.

“One of the most popular dust control products that we supply for them is the Mine Foam, which is used to spray into areas to make a solid seal to control airflow in underground mining applications. It’s very easy to use and is more efficient that its competitors.

Carroll Engineering always keeps this product in stock, and operators usually let us know how much they use a month so we can arrange to have regular shipments sent to them around their schedule.”

Carroll also supplies the MineBoss 2.0 from PBE, a centralized control system that monitors and controls atmospheric monitoring, fire and dust suppression systems, power supplies/battery back-up, fans and airflow systems.