Characterization of Dust Pollution Distribution in Large-Scale Open-Pit Coal Mines in Northern China
Jie Yan, Wei Zhou, Junlong Yan, Zhiming Wang, Xiang Lü, Huaiting Luo
Abstract
Most of China’s large open-pit coal mines are located in ecologically fragile regions in the north. The combination of climatic conditions, the characteristics of the mine operations, and the depressed topography of the mine highlight the problem of dust pollution. In this paper, we have proposed a simple model of a large open-pit coal mine and obtained the airflow distribution and dust diffusion characteristics of the mining field through theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. Combined with the actual monitoring data, the dust high concentration pollution area was identified by using the kriging difference method. The results show that a large area inside the open-pit coal mine pit is a direct current wind, and the circulation area is concentrated in the bottom of the pit—leeward gang side. The dust in the central area is easy to spread, but the northern and southern parts of the pit are difficult to spread due to the presence of circulation. The mining department can reduce or stop the mining operation intensity in the circulation area according to the actual surface wind direction to reduce dust pollution in the mine pit. Although the wind flow simulation results have not been validated by actual measurement data, their research findings can provide some guidance for dust prevention and control in open-pit coal mines.