Application
Dust Suppression in Mineral Stockyards
Answer in brief
In an open stockyard the wind does most of the dust generation, and the controls have to work without an enclosure.
Stacking height, drop distance and moisture are the three levers available.
- Reduce the drop at the stacker.
- Use water where the product tolerates it.
- Measure at the boundary, because that is where it counts.
Reviewed October 21, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026
The problem
Stockpiles generate dust from wind erosion as well as from handling, and the respirable fraction carries a regulated exposure limit.
Desired outcome
A stockyard operation whose emission stays within the limit in the conditions the site actually experiences, including wind.
Process approach
Telescopic stackers and suppression hoppers reduce the drop and the induced air at the point of placement.
Water and fog systems address both handling dust and wind erosion, with the moisture addition kept within the product specification.
Wind fencing and pile orientation reduce erosion without any consumable.
- Drop height controlled at the stacker.
- Water addition checked against the moisture limit.
- Wind fencing and pile management as part of the system.
Selection factors
- Fines fraction and its respirable content.
- Permitted moisture addition.
- Prevailing wind and boundary distance.
- Stacking equipment and the drop it creates.
- Monitoring method at the boundary.
Common failure modes
- Water addition exceeding the product moisture limit
- Stacker drop left long because it is quicker
- Wind erosion ignored while handling dust is controlled
- Emission assessed visually instead of measured
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