Blast Plan Layout Optimization for Geological and Explosive Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blast planning in mining, quarrying, and excavation industries is complex due to numerous factors such as blasthole spacing, burden, depth, pattern, geological properties, and explosive type, making it difficult even for trained engineers to optimize blast designs effectively.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based system and method for generating blast plans that utilize a blast design system to determine burden and spacing, calculate pattern footage, and simulate multiple permutations to optimize blasthole arrangements, considering geological properties and explosive characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual blast planning is used, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but time consumption and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical planning processes with an automated computer-based system that uses algorithms to generate blast designs. The system automatically processes geological data, calculates optimal patterns, and generates complete blast plans, eliminating the need for manual calculations and expert intuition while reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the approach from qualitative manual planning to quantitative parameter-based optimization. It uses numerical algorithms to calculate optimal burden, spacing, and pattern configurations based on geological parameters, transforming the planning process into a systematic computational exercise rather than manual design.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple blasthole configurations are simulated, then optimization accuracy improves, but computational time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations and pre-determines optimal blasthole configurations before actual blasting operations. It simulates multiple scenarios in advance using computational models, allowing the best design to be selected beforehand rather than through trial-and-error during execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies and simulations of blast configurations rather than physically testing each option. Multiple blasthole patterns are modeled computationally to predict outcomes, allowing extensive optimization without real-world trial blasts that would consume time and resources.
3Productivity
If automated blast design systems are implemented, then planning efficiency improves, but reliance on software algorithms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where actual blast results are fed back into the computational models to refine future predictions. This continuous improvement loop allows the algorithm to learn from real-world performance and adjust its calculations, reducing dependence on initial algorithm accuracy while maintaining high efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, or apparatus for generating a blast plan that can receive blast data comprising geological properties of a blast site, blasthole parameters, and available explosive product. A pattern footage can be determined based on a relationship between the face height, the specific energy of the available explosive product, and the geological properties of the bench. The burden and spacing can be determined from the pattern footage.