Abstract
This article presents an overview of results from a 4-year Bureau- sponsored research contract to determine the effects of controllable machine parameters (drum rotational speed and depth of cut) on the generation of respirable dust. A special research continuous miner was constructed and tested under controlled conditions in an underground coal mine. The overall results show a dust reduction of 80 pct at the machine operator and 64 pct in the return when operating parameters are changed from the high drum speed, shallow cuts to low drum speed, deep cuts.
