Correlation analysis of three influencing factors and the dust production rate for a free-falling particle stream

The effects of three factors (i.e., drop height h, hopper outlet diameter do, and material temperature 7) on the dust generation rate derived from a free falling particle stream were investigated via full factorial experiments. The correlation between the three factors and dust generation rate was also analysed. Results show that T and h affect the first fugitive dust rate largely, whereas the second fugitive dust rate is mainly dominated by h and do. Through analysing the first fugitive dust percentage data, it is found that h and T should be considered first for higher temperatures and lower flow rates, whereas h and do can be considered.under contrasting conditions, and h should be controlled in the remaining two sets of conditions. Relationships between the influencing factors and total and first fugitive dust rates were developed via multiple regression to quantify the dust emission rates for different contact surfaces (rigid or water). (C) 2017 Chinese Society of Particuology and Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.