Chile is the world’s largest copper producer, and mining is a pillar of its national economy. However, the large amounts of dust generated during mining, ore crushing, transport, and loading/unloading not only threaten miners’ health but also face increasingly strict environmental regulations. In August 2025, Chile’s Council of Ministers approved new emission standards for copper smelters, requiring 95% capture efficiency for existing sources and 99.5% for new facilities, while tightening the annual PM2.5 standard to 15µg/m³. Against this backdrop, water cannon dust suppression equipment, with its long-range coverage, flexible adjustment, and high efficiency, is becoming an essential environmental tool in Chilean mines and industrial sites.
YG Water Cannon Dust Suppression Specifications
| Model | YG-20 | YG-30 | YG-40 | YG-60 |
| Spraying distance | 20m | 30m | 40m | 60m |
| Engine | electric | electric | electric | electric |
| Electric | 380V/50HZ,3 phase | 380V/50HZ,3 phase | 380V/50HZ,3 phase | 380V/50HZ,3 phase |
| Fan motor | 3kw | 3kw | 4kw | 11kw |
| Steering motor | 2*1.5kw | 2*1.5kw | 2*1.5kw | 2*1.5kw |
| Pump motor | 1.5kw | 1.5kw | 2.5kw | 7.5kw |
| Horizontal angle | 360° | 360° | 360° | 360° |
| Vertical angle | Minus10°-55° | Minus10°-55° | Minus10°-55° | Minus10°-55° |
| The nozzle | 8 | 10 | 16 | 22 |
| Cylinder material | Q235 Carbon steel | Q235 Carbon steel | Q235 Carbon steel | Q235 Carbon steel |
| Bucket | 460L | 480L | 800L | |
| Water consumption | 1000L/h | 1500L/h | 3000L/h | 7500L/h |
| Recycled water pipe | 1400mm | 1400mm | 1400mm | 1400mm |
| The machine size | 1170*940*1700mm | 1170*940*1800mm | 1650*1200*2200mm | 1700*1200*2200mm |
| Weight | 200kg | 250kg | 300kg | 350kg |
All models support 360° horizontal rotation and -10°~55° vertical tilt, allowing flexible spray direction adjustment according to dust source locations. The stand is made of galvanized steel pipe, the air duct cover is Q235 carbon steel, and the fan blades are aluminum alloy – designed to withstand the large temperature differences and sandy, windy conditions typical of Chilean mining areas.
Case 1: A Large Copper Mine in Northern Chile
Project Background
A large open-pit copper mine in Chile’s Antofagasta region processes tens of thousands of tons of ore daily. The mine has long faced serious dust problems – emissions come from blasting, crushing stations, haul roads, and ore stockpiles simultaneously. Nearby communities have filed repeated complaints, and environmental authorities have issued multiple fines. Chile’s “Green Mining Incentive Program” offers tariff reductions on imported environmental equipment, and with the upgraded China-Chile Free Trade Agreement, Chinese equipment tariffs have dropped to 3%. This led the mine to start looking at Chinese-made dust suppression equipment.
YG Solution
After in-depth discussions and site surveys, the YG team recommended the YG-60 water cannon dust suppression unit. With a spray distance of 60 meters, combined with 360° horizontal rotation and -10°~55° vertical tilt, a single unit can cover a circular area with a radius of 60 meters – over 11,000 square meters. It comes with 22 stainless steel nozzles, water consumption of 7,500 L/h, a fan motor of 11kW, and a pump motor of 7.5kW – plenty of power for large-scale open-pit dust control. The unit also supports remote control, allowing operators to work from a safe distance away from the dusty environment.
Case Process
In September 2025, the mine contacted the YG team and provided a dust-source distribution map, wind direction data, and specific requirements from the environmental authority. The YG technical team completed a detailed selection plan and ROI analysis within one week – one YG-60 can replace 4-5 traditional water trucks, saving about $2,500 per month in labor and water costs. After two video conferences to confirm technical details, the mine placed an order in November 2025 for two YG-60 units. The equipment arrived in Chile in January 2026, and YG provided remote installation guidance. Commissioning was completed and operation began in early February.
Results
The two YG-60 units were deployed at the crushing station and the ore stockpile – the two main dust-generating areas. After three months of operation, the mine reported that total suspended particulate concentration in the air had dropped by about 85%. They passed the environmental department’s quarterly inspection with ease, and community complaints decreased significantly. The mine said that the water cannon dust suppression equipment not only helped them escape their environmental troubles, but also saved considerable water and labor costs each month – they expect to recover their equipment investment in less than four months.
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Case 2: A Port in Central Chile
Project Background
An important coal import terminal in Chile’s Valparaíso region handles over 5 million tons annually. During unloading, stockpiling, and loading, large amounts of black dust are generated, polluting the surrounding environment and affecting the health of port workers. The port operator faced two pressures: strict controls on PM2.5 and PM10 emissions from Chile’s environmental authority, and repeated complaints from nearby residents about black dust drifting onto their balconies and windows.
YG Solution
The YG team customized a YG-40 dust suppression fog cannon solution for the port. The YG-40 has a spray distance of 40 meters, 16 stainless steel nozzles, a 480L water tank, water consumption of 3,000 L/h, a fan motor of 4kW, and a pump motor of 2.5kW. More importantly, its 360° horizontal rotation and flexible tilt angles allow precise coverage of every dust source in the coal yard – from ship unloaders to stacker-reclaimers, from belt transfer stations to loading points – all with a single unit. The electrical control box and remote control let operators work from the control room, avoiding exposure to the dusty environment.
Case Process
In August 2025, after initial contact, the YG technical team developed a detailed equipment layout based on the port’s operational plan – placing the YG-40 on a high platform at the center of the stockyard to cover the entire area with its 360° rotation capability. The port was particularly concerned about the stainless steel nozzles, because the water source at the port has high salt content, which can easily corrode ordinary nozzles. YG confirmed that stainless steel nozzles offer good corrosion resistance and included spare nozzles with the shipment. After a month of communication and plan optimization, the port signed the purchase contract in October 2025, and installation and commissioning were completed in November.
Results
After the YG-40 went into operation, the port’s dust problem improved significantly. Regular daily spraying effectively suppressed dust on the surface of the coal stockpile, and PM10 concentration dropped from previously exceeding limits to within environmental standards. The port’s environmental manager commented that this dust suppression fog cannon runs stably, is easy to operate, and consumes far less water than their previous water truck solution – saving about 40% on water each month. The working environment at the port also improved noticeably, and workers no longer need to wear masks. The port now plans to purchase another YG-40 for dust control in its expansion area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Water Cannon Dust Suppression
Q1: Will poor water quality at the mine affect the equipment?
Our nozzles are made of stainless steel, which offers better corrosion resistance than ordinary materials. However, if the water contains high levels of sediment or chemicals, it will accelerate nozzle wear. That’s why we include spare nozzles with every shipment and recommend installing a filter at the water inlet. For spraying chlorine-containing disinfectants, you can upgrade to a ceramic pump; if the liquid itself is highly corrosive, we can customize a full stainless steel mist cannon.
Q2: What if there is no three-phase 380V power supply on site?
It’s not a problem. Although the four standard models are all 380V/50Hz three-phase electric, we can customize according to your site’s power conditions – including adapting to 220V single-phase, 415V/60Hz, and other voltage/frequency standards. For remote mining areas or field sites with no grid power, we can also add a diesel generator set for fully independent operation. The generator power is matched to the mist cannon model, typically ranging from 15-60kW. Please let us know your power conditions when inquiring, and we will provide the most suitable solution.
Q3: Can the equipment also spray pesticides or disinfectants?
Yes. For pesticide spraying, the standard configuration works perfectly – no modification needed. For disinfectant spraying, we recommend upgrading to a ceramic pump for better corrosion resistance. One machine, many uses – especially suitable for flexible epidemic prevention and disinfection scenarios in Chilean mining areas.
Q4: Will strong winds affect performance?
Our equipment has ample fan power (up to 11kW on the YG-60) and works well under normal wind conditions. In strong winds, we recommend adjusting the spray angle and direction based on wind direction, or suspending operations to save water.
Q5: Is daily maintenance of the dust control water cannon complicated?
The YG series has a simple structure. Daily maintenance mainly involves regularly cleaning the stainless steel nozzles, checking pump seals, and checking fan operation. The stand is galvanized steel for corrosion resistance, the air duct cover is cold-rolled steel, and the fan blades are aluminum alloy – very durable.
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Contact YG
From the Atacama Desert in northern Chile to the port terminals in central Chile, YG series mist cannon dust suppression equipment is helping more and more Chilean customers solve their dust control challenges. Whether you are a mine manager, port operator, or environmental officer at an industrial site, we can provide you with one-stop service from selection and installation to after-sales support.
Contact YG today for a customized solution and ROI analysis for your project. Let us use water cannon dust suppression technology to protect Chile’s blue skies and the health of its miners.
