Abstract:

Objective To analyze the characteristics of cotton dust generation in the cleaning workshop of a cotton spinning enterprise and provide a reference for the design of engineering protective facilities for cotton dust in the workshop. Methods In July2024，following relevant national standards，the cotton dust samples were collected from the workplace of the cleaning workshop in a cotton-spinning enterprise in Northwest China，and the test results were analyzed. Combined with Fluent software simulation results，the characteristics of cotton dust generation in the cleaning workshop of a cotton-spinning enterprise in Northwest China were studied. Results In the cleaning workshop of a cotton spinning enterprise in Northwest China，the CPE concentration of cotton dust near the foreign fiber collection bag of the foreign fiber machine was 2.60 mg/m³，and that near the cotton bale of the cotton grabbing machine was 0.77 mg/m³. Under different work shifts，the occupational health risk level of cotton dust in the workshop was moderate or higher. The cotton dust concentration at 1 m from the foreign fiber collection bag showed a statistically significant difference compared to the concentrations at other measurement points（P<0.05）. The physicochemical analysis of cotton dust indicated that 90% of the cotton dust particles in the workshop had a diameter smaller than 1 μm. Fluent simulation results revealed that the three foreign fiber collection bags in the workshop were the primary sources of cotton dust pollution. The simulation results were highly consistent with the measured concentrations on-site. Conclusion The cotton dust in the cleaning workshop of the cotton spinning enterprise in Northwest China is primarily composed of organic substances with particle sizes smaller than 1 μm，mainly originating from the foreign fiber collection bags，which leads to increased cotton dust concentrations along the inspection routes，adversely affecting the working environment for employees.

Key words: Clearing, Cotton dust, Cotton spinning, Fluent simulation