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Electronic detonators technology of the future

Article · January 2005

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 Figure 1. Consultant
Dave McKay was respon-

Electronic
sible for the field train-
ing. Dave McKay demon-
strating the use of a
logger at the blast site.

Detonators
Technology of the Future
By P. Pal Roy, C. Sawmliana, R. K. Singh, S. P. Jana and Aloke Verma.

Introduction
On July 21, 2004, a trial blast using electronic
detonators was conducted in India for the first
time in an opencast mine at Pundi-E Quarry of
TISCO, West Bokaro. Orica-IEL conducted the
test using electronic detonators. To provide
necessary technical feedback on wider applica-
bility, CMRI scientists also participated in the
trial blast.

34 The Journal of Explosives Engineering January/February 2005

Electronic Blasting System from the free face to the first row was 2.5 m. Burden
The electronic blasting system consists of the following between the first and second row was 4 m. Burden
three main components: between the second and third row was 5 m. Spacing
between holes was 4.5 m for all three rows. Top stem-
(1) The electronic detonator ming was 3.5 m for all the holes. Casting of the muck
(2) The logger was required up to 40-45 m in the de-coaled area.
(3) The blaster Holes were charged with 225.40 kg of Site-Mixed
Emulsion (SME) from Orica-IEL. The ikon electronic det-
Each electronic detonator contains a microchip, onator with a 15 m harness wire length was used for
capacitor and safety components as well as convention- charging the holes. A 400 gm booster (Primex from IES)
al explosive components (i.e. base charge). The was used for each hole. Initiation point of the hole was
microchip circuitry includes an oscillator for timing, maintained at 1.0 m above the bottom of the hole. The
memory for retaining its programmed delay, and com- total amount of explosives fired was 7438.20 kg.
munication functions to receive and deliver messages to Surface connection was done using a harness
and from the control unit. Protection against electrostat- wire/bus-wire/twin-wire. An 8 ms delay timing was set
ic discharges, stray current and radio frequencies are between two consecutive holes with the logger through
provided through detonator design, chip design and the harness wire (Figure 4). The firing patterns of the
protective components on the input side of the detona- blasting round and charging patterns of the holes are
tor. Shock protection is provided both internally and shown in Figure 6.
externally. Each detonator has a unique identification
number, which is printed on a tag secured to the harness
wire (Bartley et al., 2000; Tucker et al., 2000 and
Rossmanith, 2000).
The logger is used to communicate with the detona-
tors and assign the desired delay times. The logger also
checks the correct contact between detonator and bus
wire as well as the functioning of the detonators and
checks the wire for short-circuits or current leakage
(Figure 2). One logger can be used for a maximum of
Figure 3.View of the blasting site at Pundi-E Quarry, West
200 detonators.
Bokaro, TISCO.
The blaster is a unit which controls the programming
and triggering of the blasthole. It is the only piece of
equipment that contains the required voltages and codes
capable of firing the detonators. The blaster communi-
cates to each detonator, in turn, via the logger. The func-
tion of the blaster is to check the firing line and harness
circuitry of the blast, calibrate and program each deto-
nator with its delay time, arm all detonators, then fire the
blast by providing a unique signal to all detonators.

Figure 4.View of the digitally controlled rock breakage.

Blast Results
The following results were observed from the trial blast.

(1) Fragmentation was very good (Figure 5).

(2) The muck was thrown to 45 m to the de-coaled
area.
Figure 2. Connecting the electronic detonator with the logger (3) The height of the muck profile was less than 4 m.
through a hinged connector. (4) Flyrock was completely controlled. The blasting
bench was very clean after the blast.
Field Trial (5) No overbreak resulted and the cut was absolutely
The trial blast was conducted at the Sixth OB bench neat.
of Pundi East Quarry (Figure 3). The strata consisted of
medium-grained sandstone, massive nature. Bench
height was 14 m. The diameter of the hole was 154 mm
and the hole depth varied from 13 to 14 m. Total num-
ber of holes was 33, distributed in three rows. Burden

January/February 2005 The Journal of Explosives Engineering 35


Figure 5.View of blast casting with excellent fragmentation.
Vibration and Air-overpressure Results
Vibration was monitored at a distance of 75 m, on
the backside of the blasting face. A geophone was fixed
on the compacted ground. The recorded vibration is
given in Table 1.
The air overpressure was recorded at only 94 dB (L).
Unlike detonating fuse and NTD system, surface con-
nection was done using only a harness wire/bus-
wire/twin-wire and no detonator was used. Therefore,
the air overpressure recorded was much less compared
to non-electric initiating devices.
Figure 6. Depiction of firing and charging pattern followed in
the trial blast.
Table 1.Vibration results while using electronic detonators.
Conclusion
In comparison to other available blasting systems (or
accessories), the cost of electronic systems are present-
ly high. However, considering the enormous advantages
like expanded pattern (increasing burden and spacing),
total control of vibration, noise, fragmentation, flyrock,
backbreak and overbreak, the overall increase in blast-
ing cost will be insignificant.
Scope for the Future
The superiority of electronic detonators over con-
ventional electric and non-electric systems was clearly
evident from the trial blast results. It is therefore antici-
pated that this new technology will replace the existing
36 The Journal of Explosives Engineering
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systems, both in coal and non-coal mines. However, spe-
cific application oriented research and developmemt
must be carried out in order to measure its real advan-
tages in a broader spectrum.
Figure 7.Typical ground vibration time history record mea-
sured at a distance of 75 m from the blasting source
Figure 8. FFT analysis of the trace record of the ground vibra-
tion shown in Figure 7.
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the management of West Bokaro Group of
Collieries, TISCO for providing necessary facilities to conduct the exper-
imental blast using electronic detonators. Thanks are also due to all the
officers and staff members of different organizations who took part in the
experimental trial. They are thankful to the Director, CMRI and
Management of Orica-IEL, Kolkata for giving permission to submit this
paper for publication.
References
Bartley, D. A., McClure, R., Wingfield, B. and Trousselle, R., 2000:
Electronic detonator technology: Field application and safety approach,
Proc. 1st World Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique,
Munich, Germany, September 6-8, pp. 149-158.
Tucker, G. B. and Kay, D. B., 2000: The use of electronic blasting system
at the M.I.M. George Fisher Mine, Proc. 1st World Conference on
Explosives and Blasting Technique, Munich, Germany, September 6-8,
pp. 117-122.
Rossmanith, H. P., 2000: The influence of delay timing on optimal frag-
mentation in electronic blasting, Proc. 1st World Conference on
Explosives and Blasting Technique, Munich, Germany, September 6-8,
pp. 141-148.
January/February 2005