ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OF PLOUGH TRACK SPRAY SYSTEMS.

In coal plough faces plough track spray by nozzles fitted to the spill plates of the face conveyor and, since recently, to the canopy tips of shield support in case of thin seams. This kind of spray is to meet the three requests of dust suppression: The water is to precipitate the airborne dust in the plough track, to moisten the face, and to spray the coal on the conveyor. To meet all these requirements water drops in sufficient quantity, size and velocity are necessary. This in turn requires a defined choice of nozzles, spray of a sufficient water quantity at optimized pressure, and a spray direction defined as a function of operation conditions.