Vibrating Mesh Filtration for Dust Scrubbers in Continuous Mining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flooded bed dust scrubbers in underground mining face issues with mesh clogging, leading to reduced cleaning capacity and frequent maintenance due to the tradeoff between mesh fineness, dust capture efficiency, and sustained air flow rate.
Innovation Solution
A vibrating mesh system that utilizes the natural vibrations of a continuous miner to enhance dust particle capture, featuring a mesh system secured by a frame and an elastic foundation with a spring constant that resonates at optimal frequencies, providing a self-cleaning mechanism and maintaining high air flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the mesh is made finer to improve dust capture efficiency, then dust capture efficiency is improved, but the mesh becomes clogged more easily and air flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration to the mesh system through an elastic foundation with optimized spring constants that resonate at frequencies matching the continuous miner's operational vibrations (50-200 Hz). This vibration prevents dust particles from accumulating and clogging the mesh pores, allowing the use of finer meshes (100-325 mesh) without the usual penalty of reduced air flow and frequent maintenance. The vibrational energy continuously cleans the mesh surface, resolving the contradiction between fine mesh filtration and clogging resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the mesh system by introducing vibrational motion and optimizing the elastic foundation parameters (spring constants ranging from 5×10^5 to 2×10^7 N/m). This parameter change allows the mesh to dynamically respond to operational conditions, maintaining open pores during vibration while still providing effective filtration, thus resolving the tradeoff between capture efficiency and airflow sustainability.
2Measurement precision
If the mesh is made finer to improve dust capture efficiency, then dust capture efficiency is improved, but frequent maintenance is required
Solution Approach 1:
The vibrational mechanism serves as a self-cleaning system that continuously prevents dust accumulation on the mesh. By resonating at the continuous miner's operational frequencies, the mesh automatically sheds captured particles, eliminating the need for frequent manual cleaning and maintenance. This resolves the contradiction between using fine meshes for high efficiency and the resulting increased maintenance burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh system performs self-cleaning through its own vibrational motion generated by the elastic foundation. The system uses the operational vibrations from the continuous miner to automatically clear its own surface, making it self-maintaining and eliminating the need for external intervention or frequent shutdowns for maintenance.
3Measurement precision
If the mesh fineness is increased to improve dust capture efficiency, then dust capture efficiency is improved, but sustained air flow rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vibrational energy applied to the mesh prevents the formation of dust cakes that would block air flow paths. By keeping the mesh pores clear through continuous vibration, the system maintains high air flow rates even with fine meshes that would otherwise rapidly become clogged. This resolves the contradiction between fine mesh filtration and sustained air flow capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The vibrating mesh system increases dust collection efficiency, reduces mesh clogging, and prolongs operational time by effectively capturing dust particles while maintaining high air flow rates, with improved performance in both wet and dry conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a frame bed for holding the mesh system, wherein the frame bed receives vibrational energy from a continuous miner; and a means for transferring vibrational energy from the continuous miner to the mesh system, wherein the means for transferring the vibrational energy are positioned between and in contact with the frame bed and the mesh system
Implementation Method 2
The mesh can be heated at a temperature of from about 700° C. to about 800° C. from about 5 minutes to about 60 minutes. Each mesh can comprise a coating.
Implementation Method 3
The coating can be hydrophilic. The coating can be nonionic surfactant comprising alkylene oxide units. The coating can comprise an inorganic material comprising hydroxyl groups exposed on the surface.
Data Source
AI summary
Various examples are provided related to dust particle removal in underground mining. In one example, a filter system for removing dust particles includes a mesh system comprising one or more meshes, a frame bed for holding the mesh system, and vibrational energy transfer from the continuous miner to the mesh system. In another example, a method for removing dust particles includes contacting the dust particles with the filter system mounted to the continuous miner, where the continuous miner produces vibrational energy sufficient to vibrate the mesh in the filter system.