For the first time in Russia, scientists at Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNRPU) have created a mathematical model that predicts the behavior of salt dust in potash mines. The development takes into account the humidity of the air and allows you to predict how the size and distribution of dust particles changes. This will help to design more efficient and targeted ventilation systems, ensure safe working conditions and reduce wear on mining equipment.
Potash salts are strategic raw materials for agriculture. During their extraction, powerful combines crush the rock, lifting billions of salt particles into the air.
In the enclosed space of the mine, dust accumulates and leads to:
• Occupational diseases — more than 30% of all occupational diseases in the world (according to WHO) are associated with exposure to industrial dust.
• accelerated wear of equipment — dust gets into the mechanisms, causing breakdowns, downtime and repair costs (tens of millions of rubles).
The existing ventilation and irrigation systems operate continuously, without taking into account the uneven distribution of dust. Dust measurements provide only an instantaneous picture, but they do not allow us to predict changes.
Perm Polytechnic University scientists turned to research on marine aerosol (salt particles above the ocean) — their chemical composition is close to mine dust. However, the environment in the mines is different, and the dust contains impurities.
Stages of model creation:
1. The exact composition of the dust at one of the deposits (proportions of sodium chloride and potassium) has been determined.
2. For the first time, the hygroscopicity parameter for the mixture was calculated — a number indicating how actively the dust absorbs moisture.
3. Mathematical patterns from oceanology have been adapted to the conditions of a potash mine (enclosed space, real dust composition).
What the model gives the engineer:
• Knowing the current humidity of the air (a standard measured indicator), the model calculates:
• how the size of dust particles changes (swell, become heavier, settle);
• how much dust is hanging in the air;
• how quickly and at what distance the air will clear itself.
This allows you to direct ventilation specifically — only to places where dust does not settle naturally, and to muffle it in other places, saving electricity.
The experiment was conducted in a special chamber lined with salt rock. When humidity changes (50%, 60%, 70%) The laser counter recorded the particle distribution. The calculations based on the new model completely coincided with the experimental data.
“The model correctly describes the physics of the process — how salt absorbs moisture, swells and settles. It can be used for any potash mine,” said Konstantin Cherny, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Department of Life Safety at PNRPU.
Practical benefits for enterprises:
• Occupational safety — predicting the dustiness of work areas and reducing the risk of occupational diseases.
• Savings on repairs — reduction of wear of mechanisms (tens of millions of rubles).
• Energy efficiency — targeted ventilation operation at no extra cost.
• Designing dust suppression systems is a scientifically based approach instead of a blind approach.
The scientists’ article was published in the journal “Mining science and technology”. The results of the study can be implemented at any potash mine in Russia.