Experiment study on foam-based collaborative suppression for mitigating impact airflow and dust in ore pass

Ore unloading ports constitute a primary dust source in underground mining, where ore impact generates airflow disturbances that promote particulate dispersion. Foam-based suppression has proven effective in mitigating such dust during ore pass transfer operations. This study develops a collaborative dust suppression strategy that couples dynamic foam pouring at the discharge portal with pre-conditioning foam infusion inside the ore bin. Using orthogonal experimental design, we investigated the effects of key foam parameters—pouring flow rate and duration at the unloading port, and pre-injected foam volume in the bin—on airflow patterns and dust generation. The collaborative interaction between foam pouring at the unloading port and pre-injection in the ore bin significantly enhances dust suppression, achieving a maximum efficiency of 95.83%. The optimal process parameters determined via orthogonal experiments are: a foam pouring flow rate of 70 ml/s at the unloading port, a pouring duration of 12 s, and a pre-injected foam volume of 400 ml in the ore bin. Compared to single-location dust suppression methods, the collaborative approach provides more effective control over collision-induced and airborne disturbed dust under similar foam consumption conditions. This approach results in an enhancement of dust suppression efficiency by more than 30%. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.