For dust suppression using fine water spray, e.g., dust
emitted from falling bulk materials in an enclosed dust
chamber, the influence of water spraying flux and relative
humidity of the surrounding air on dust emission were investigated.
It was found the higher the relative humidity,
the lower the needed water flux to reach equal dust suppression.
For each relative humidity a certain initial water
flux is needed to start the dust suppression. The higher the
humidity, the lower the initial water flux, and therefore the
overall water consumption. By increasing the water flux,
dust suppression starts with higher effect which diminishes
with further water flux increase. Above a certain maximum
water flux no further dust suppression can be achieved.
These relationships were modelled by a mathematical
equation which can be used to calculate the dust suppression
for different water fluxes and relative humidities.