Systems for controlling silica dust during hydraulic fracturing operations

A system for controlling dust during hydraulic fracturing operations comprising:

• a support structure including a plurality of spaced-apart support frame members;
• a manifold having a plurality of ports positioned by the support structure above a piece of frac sand handling equipment receiving frac sand from a frac sand source, the piece of frac sand handling equipment comprising one of a conveyor, a bin of a hydraulic fracturing blender, or a tub of a hydraulic fracturing blender;
• wherein each support frame member of the support structure includes an upper section connected between a pair of spaced-apart vertical legs, the pair of legs being adapted to straddle the piece of frac sand handing equipment, and wherein a lower end of each respective leg is connected to, and supported by, a respective individual base configured to rest on the ground, wherein each respective individual base is directly connected to the lower end of the respective leg and is not directly connected to any other individual base, any other leg, or any other support frame member of the support structure, wherein each respective leg is directly connected to the respective individual base and the respective upper section and is not directly connected to any other individual base, any other leg or any other support frame member of the support structure, and wherein the individual bases, legs and upper section are unconnected to the piece of frac sand handling equipment;
• wherein the support structure further comprises a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal members directly connected between the upper sections of adjacent support frame members and unconnected to the piece of frac sand handling equipment, the plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal members being the only portions of the support structure longitudinally connecting adjacent support frame members;
• and
• an enclosure supported by the support structure and enclosing at least a portion of the piece of frac sand handling equipment, wherein each port of the manifold is coupled to a conduit extending through a space within the enclosure towards the piece of frac sand handling equipment and having an inlet for capturing dust contained within the enclosure when negative air pressure is applied to the manifold, wherein the enclosure includes a sidewall with at least one aperture therethrough for receiving the frac sand from the frac sand source external to the enclosure.