A Review of Dust Movement Laws and Numerical Simulation-Based Dust Suppression Methods in Coal Mines

Abstract

Dust generated during coal mining and transportation poses serious threats to miners’ health, operational safety, and the surrounding environment. However, comprehensive review studies on dust suppression in coal mines remain limited, particularly those integrating dust movement laws with numerical simulation approaches. This review presents a systematic and reproducible analysis of dust control methods in coal mines with a particular focus on numerical simulation. Current research progress and development trends are summarized from three aspects: structural optimization of dust suppression devices, optimization of operating conditions, and ventilation system design. Existing studies indicate that structural improvements mainly concentrate on nozzle geometry, diameter, installation position, and spraying distance, while operating condition optimization primarily involves pressure regulation. Due to the complexity and high cost of full-scale experimental platforms, ventilation system optimization is largely achieved through numerical simulation, supplemented by field measurements. Studies based purely on numerical simulations remain limited in addressing the chemical modification of dust removers; however, with the advancement of molecular dynamics techniques, this area may represent a promising direction for future research.