Numerical Modeling of Dust Lifting from a Complex-Geometry Industrial Stockpile

This paper investigates the dust lifting phenomenon at the coal and iron ore stockpile at the Port of Koper, Slovenia. Dust lifting presents a serious environment and health hazard, thus the main objective of our study was to propose efficient measures for wind erosion reduction. A numerical model of the stockpile was created using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. Wind velocity fields above the piles were calculated for the current stockpile layout and for several modified cases with rearranged piles and added porous barriers. Results from numerical modelling were used in the USEPA model to determine dust emission factors. Comparison of selected cases shows a positive, although limited effect of porous fences and barriers on reduction of local velocities and consequently, dust erosion rate. On the other hand, pile rearrangement has little effect and may not be practical for implementation. Realistic stockpile geometry with adjacent structures has shown to cause wind velocity distributions, which are not consistent with the most studied cases of regular pile shapes and layouts. The angle of incoming wind is a key factor influencing effectiveness of both solid and porous windbarriers. The proposed placement of porous barriers between the piles has shown to be effective in reducing wind exposure and dust emission. To maintain the dust emissions at an acceptably low level, other measures such as spraying with water and crust-forming liquids may still be necessary at higher wind velocities.