Method of controlling road dust in strip mines

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improvement in dust control methods used at strip mines. The invention is based upon super absorbent polymer used in combination with water. The polymer is premixed with water and is applied to the roads by use of a conventional truck capable of dispensing water. The super absorbent polymer provides water retention and can be re-hydrated by rain, dew, or additional tanker water. The method disclosed includes the step of: adding about 15 gallons of dry super absorbent water swellable polymer to each 2000 gallons of water placed within the water tanker, stirring the polymer into the water to form a mixture, and distributing the mixture over strip mining roads.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 430,601, filed Jan. 7, 2011, entitled METHOD OF CONTROLLING ROAD DUST IN STRIP MINES the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention is directed to the control of road dust, and in particular, to a method of controlling dust raised by the use of roads at strip mines.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Strip mining is an effective procedure to recover rock, stone, gravel, slag, or other valuable resources. Strip mining, also known as surface mining, typically employs the use of earth movers for removal of an overlying soil deposit to expose the useful minerals beneath. Drag mine excavators and / or bucket wheel excavators are then used to extract minerals, the amount of which is only limited by the size of the mineral bed underlying. It is not unusually for a surface mine to dig...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The super absorbent polymer can absorb and store many times its own weight in water. Properly applied, the super absorbent polymer will reduce the amount of water lost through percolation, evaporation and runoff thereby reducing the amount of water necessary to treat a given area.

[0023]Still another objective of the invention is to provide a method of the controlling dust while reducing the labor expended in conventional treatment facilities.

Problems solved by technology

While the trucks are capable of transporting vast quantities of material in a single load, such trucks are large, heavy and capable of creating large amounts of dust as they are driven over the roads.

It is not practical to pave the roads at an excavation site as the excavation equipment is moved constantly and would require additional road building nearly every day which would interrupt the flow of digging which is planned for both efficiency in removal and in a pattern that emphasizes safety of the road's underlying bed.

Further, due to the weight of the vehicles, even a properly paved road would have a limited useful life.

Further, excavation may be over large areas of land causing extremely long roads; or the excavation may dig deep into the earth wherein the roads may be steep to reach the processing facility.

A problem with strip mining to which this invention addresses is that the haul roads do not retain water so when trucks are driven over the roads they create large areas of dust.

Dust is known to saturate the strip mine and surrounding area with unhealthy airborne particulates.

The dust can damage, if not destroy, machinery.

If the strip mine is subjected to any wind, the dust can be transported very quickly to surrounding areas where it can be offensive to the neighboring community.

It is well known that dirt and dust indigestion into an engine can result in premature wear leading to costly maintenance or repair of the engine.

Dust damage is not limited to internal combustion engines, the operators of the vehicles are also susceptible to inhalation of dust.

It has been found that inhaling of dust can lead to asthma and in instances of coal mining, chronic problems such as black lung disease.

In many instances even the conventional air filters are neglected which can quickly lead to the early demise of the machinery.

Further, while the operators of the mine equipment are cognoscente of the problems that can be caused by dust and may even wear appropriate respiratory equipment, the average consumer in a surrounding town may not understand the damage that airborne dust is having on them, or cannot afford to purchase the appropriate respiratory equipment.

In addition to the cost of the water, the truck(s) needed for water distribution including maintenance, as well as the cost of personnel, makes the cost of dust control a sizable expense.

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