EXPLOSIVES AND DELIVERY
ensures that the unit returns to a safe state in the event of a loss of communications, after a time out period. The Sequential Fire feature allows the user to space the firings of each Remote unit so that they do not fire at the same time, 0-2 seconds between the firing of each Remote. This feature is particularly useful when firing multiple blocks where a delay is needed between each block.
As well as having many impressive new features, the RB1673 boasts increased firing capacity. A minimum of 350V now allows for about 75 electric caps in series, or a maximum circuit resistance of 150 Ω.
Becker Varis reports that“ after assessing the maintenance costs of their existing central blast cable system, multiple mines have made the easy decision to invest in the smartblast system as it worked out to be just a third of their annual maintenance cost; the return on investment is measured in months. smartblast is definitely the smart choice for blasting in any underground, surface and tunnelling applications. Just maintain one system, your existing Leaky Feeder, and initiate safely with smartblast.”
Last November, AEL Mining Services launched its most advanced electronic initiating system yet. The intelliShot ® electronic initiating system is designed to work in partnership with DetNet™ technology, and is the newest addition to AEL’ s electronic initiating systems product suite.
“ The current economic climate leaves no room for error in mining, and companies are unwilling to compromise on safety, expecting the most state-of-the-art and cost-effective solutions,” said Dirk van Soelen, AEL’ s Global Portfolio Manager, at the time.
“ AEL’ s extensive experience and expertise is what sets us apart as industry leaders in innovation and bring electronic blasting technology to Africa.”
IntelliShot is equipped with unique features that simplify blasting, and guarantees users the best results, every time. Designed to accommodate different blasting complexities, intelliShot can either be adjusted to work accordingly with a“ tag by plan” option for advanced and complex blasting, or a“ time assignment” option for non-complex blasts.
The fully programmable intelliShot ® 4G detonator builds on the safety principles of the DigiShot™ / DigiShot Plus range. Its key feature is a new ability to write a delay time into the detonators memory during tagging from the handheld CE4 Tagger. The detonator also has a redesigned Application Specific Integrated Circuit( ASIC) with 15 times more memory capacity; the detonator is able to store and track critical information such as: n Delay times and unique ID to be stored on the detonator
n GPS co-ordinates, time and date of tagging and blasting information n Dynamic calculation of installed network capacity and resistance when deployed. Working in conjunction with the 4G detonator, is the handheld CE4 Tagger; a leading innovation from DetNet. As the best of its kind in the industry, it has the capability to wirelessly control the intelliShot Commander to tag and test up to 300 detonators per line.
“ This is an unprecedented benchmark in blasting,” van Soelen said,“ The tagger is inherently safe, and allows users to troubleshoot the bench before leaving.”
The system is completed with the intelliShot Commander; a safe, robust and user-centric device. The multipurpose device can be used as a remote unit which is controlled from the bench, a repeater or a base station. Automatic detonator detection and continuous testing means that less user interaction is required, and provides seven times faster programming than existing systems.
The intelliShot Commander is wirelessly controlled from the CE4 Tagger, and monitors the energy stored in the last detonator right up to the point of blasting. This allows the intelliShot system to easily blast through dense levels of leakage.
Blasting better
The evolution of mechanical rock-breaking equipment and techniques is putting added pressure on explosives and blasting companies to harness the technologies of the digital age, according to BME Research and Development Manager Selwyn Pearton.
“ Explosives are generally the most economical means of breaking rock – especially hard rock – and are likely to remain so for many years,” said Pearton.“ As other methods advance, however, the explosives sector increasingly needs solutions that support and promote a more transparent, efficient workplace.”
Considerable progress has already been made to harness digital communication technologies in the blasting environment – both underground and opencast. The real-time transfer of data and images between the underground workplace and management, for instance, is already facilitating quicker and better decision-making.
For instance, pump controllers – used in blasting operations employing emulsion explosives – can send operational data to surface via Wi-Fi networks. Operators can photograph the work-face, report incidents underground, report breakdowns, and log safety issues. The faster response times that result
The real-time transfer of data and images between the underground workplace and management is facilitating quicker and better decision-making
from this communication are improving efficiencies by reducing downtime, says Pearton.
“ In addition to this, the capacity to communicate is being taken right to the rockface – and being made accessible to all skill-levels – through easy-to-use blastingrelated software applications on everyday information tools like tablets and mobile phones,” he said.
With the power of computers to analyse and package the data being generated and shared from the blast-face, managers can now have more real-time insights. Data captured from mine blasts can be stored in a central location, so that it can be analysed holistically rather than only one blast at a time.
“ These blast-related technologies make for higher efficiencies and productivity,” he said,“ but they do not exist in a vacuum and they can only be effective if they support – and are aligned to – a modern approach to mine management.”
He said the technological advances are most effective when the culture on a mine prioritises the need for operational transparency and collaboration between the functional units.
“ With all this data being collected and analysed, decisions can be made for the greater good of the organisation as a whole, and those decisions can be rooted in empirical evidence from the blast-face,” said Pearton.“ By measuring underground blasting practices on an ongoing basis, and evaluating them in terms of the quality of the blasts, mines can constantly improve performance.”
This does require, in the first place, that management is ready to consider using innovative approaches – and is committed to collaborating with technology providers to test novel ideas in real situations. Secondly, mines also need ways to measure the performance of competing rock-breaking technologies, in ways that allow comparison against financial and operational objectives.
“ Getting these blasting technologies into
52 International Mining | AUGUST 2017