Are you using the best water sprays for the operation?
Choosing the right spray pattern for the right coal mining operation
Drop size and spray pattern may be more important than you think.
24
Jan 22
One easy trap to fall into is to just keep spraying more water (or other resources) at dust or waste problems in an effort to solve the problem. Not only can this result in a waste of water and money, it could also be counter productive as the spray pattern and droplet size play a large role in effective dust management, especially in coal mining operations where a significant health and safety risk is present.
There are many types of water sprays. It is important to understand the differences in drop size and spray patterns. The following chart provides typical uses for different water sprays. However, the specifics of your operation will determine which will work best.
| APPLICATION | AIR ATOMISING | HYDRAULIC FINE SPRAY | HOLLOW CONE | FLAT SPRAY | FULL CONE |
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| Longwall mining machines, coal shearers continuous miners |  |
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| Jaw crushers | |
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| Methane gas dispersion | |
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| Loading terminals | |
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| Primary dump hoppers | |
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| Transfer points | |
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| Transport areas | |
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| Stockpiles | |
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| Stackers, reclaimers | |
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