Study on the air curtain dust control technology with a dust purifying fan for fully mechanized mining face

An air curtain dust control technology for a fully mechanized mining face was developed, using a method that combined numerical simulations with field measurements in this paper. The results show that a triangular air curtain was formed between the shearer and the footway by the high velocity airflow field generated at the outlets of two fans after the technology was applied, which can effectively prevent dust from entering the driver's working area. Before the dust control technology was applied, the dust concentration of the shearer driver's working area exceeded 2000 mg/m3. However, after the dust control technology was applied, the dust concentration of the shearer driver's working area was reduced to 300 mg/m3. After verification through field measurements, the dust control rate of each measuring point, apart from the advancing support, exceeded 40%, and that of the shearer driver's working area was over 90%. [Display omitted] •The principle of air curtain dust control technology was explained.•The process of the dust purifying fan forming the air curtain was revealed.•Dust concentration before and after the application of technology were analyzed and field verified.•Dust reduction rate of the shearer driver's working area and the fully mechanized mining face was tested.