Emulsion Explosive Nanobubble Sensitization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-in-oil emulsion explosives face challenges with high costs due to the use of PIBSA emulsifiers, instability leading to reduced shelf life and blasting performance, and the need for effective detonation control without relying on chemical gassing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating nanobubbles and microbubbles of gases like air, oxygen, CO2, and nitrogen into the emulsion explosive composition to stabilize the emulsion and enhance detonation sensitivity, using a combination of nanobubbles (50-100 nm) and microbubbles (100-700 nm) at a predefined ratio, which acts as both a stabilizer and a sensitizer for the explosive charge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If PIBSA emulsifiers are used to stabilize the emulsion explosive, then emulsion stability and safety are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines nanobubbles and microbubbles into a single gassing system that performs multiple functions: stabilizing the emulsion, providing detonation sensitivity, and extending shelf life. This merged approach replaces the need for high concentrations of expensive PIBSA emulsifier while maintaining stability, thus reducing manufacturing cost without sacrificing emulsion stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and size parameters of gas bubbles, introducing nanobubbles (50-500 nm) and microbubbles (0.5-5 μm) with specific size distributions. These parameter changes create a stable gassing system that provides both stabilization and detonation enhancement functions, allowing reduction of PIBSA emulsifier content while maintaining emulsion stability.
2Reliability
If chemical gassing is used to enhance detonation, then detonation sensitivity is improved, but emulsion stability deteriorates due to rupture of the continuous oil/emulsifier layer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming stable nanobubbles and microbubbles that are incorporated into the emulsion matrix before use. These pre-formed bubbles are stabilized by the emulsifier layer without causing rupture, maintaining emulsion stability while providing the necessary gassing for detonation sensitivity. This avoids the destabilizing effect of chemical gassing reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses physically stable nanobubbles and microbubbles as a replacement for chemical gassing agents. These bubbles provide the necessary gas phase for detonation without undergoing chemical reactions that would destabilize the emulsion, effectively serving as a stable, non-reactive gassing system that maintains emulsion integrity.
3Reliability
If larger bubbles are used for detonation sensitization, then hot spot formation is improved, but emulsion stability and shelf life are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gas phase into two distinct size categories: nanobubbles (50-500 nm) for long-term stability and microbubbles (0.5-5 μm) for detonation sensitization. This segmentation allows each bubble size to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system stability and extending shelf life, avoiding the problems associated with using only larger bubbles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional roles to different bubble size regions within the emulsion. Nanobubbles provide long-term stability and prevent crystallization, while microbubbles provide detonation sensitization. This local functional differentiation allows the system to achieve both long shelf life and effective detonation performance simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the need for high PIBSA content, improves emulsion stability and detonation efficiency, extends shelf life, and enhances blasting performance by creating controlled 'hot spots' for efficient energy transfer during detonation.
Implementation Method 1
During detonation, a shock wave travels through the explosive charge which compresses the voids/bubbles contained therein. When the void/bubble rapidly compresses to higher pressures, a large amount of heat is generated.
Implementation Method 2
When the void/bubble rapidly compresses to higher pressures, a large amount of heat is generated. The heat created by compressing and collapsing a void/bubble can generate sufficient temperatures to cause the subsequent detonation of the surrounding explosive.
Implementation Method 3
Water-in-oil emulsions are well known and widely accepted in the explosives industry. These types of explosives are generally understood to include explosive compositions comprised of multiple, immiscible liquids.
Implementation Method 4
The emulsion droplets usually contain a range of surfactants, like PIBSA based emulsifiers that stabilise these colloidal two-phase systems by preventing contact between the dispersed droplets.
Data Source
AI summary
An explosive, in particular a water-in-oil emulsion explosive, comprising a water-based explosive composition and a gas, wherein the gas is infused with two different ranges of sizes of nanobubbles, to provide controlled hotspots for detonation to improve emulsion stability and detonation sensitivity. Into the Nano Bubble tank (31) are fed the pressurised gas in water through valve (26) and also a sample is fed into the Nano Bubble tank (31). This then provides the NanoBubble Input NBIbp1 to be fed by NB Feed Pump (33) into static mixer (51). Also fed to the Static Mixer (51) by matrix pump (41) is the explosives containing PIBSA (Poly-Iso-Butylene Succinic Anhydride) in emulsion form as Emulsion Input EInp1 from Emulsion Matrix truck. The static mixer allows for the gas to be infused into the water-based explosive composition in at least a substantial part in the form of nanobubbles (NB) which then forms a controlled explosive output for use in the blast hole (61) by the bubbles acting as a sensitiser as so called “hot spots” which transfer the energy throughout the explosive charge once initiated. This allows the thermal “hot spot” detonation wave to travel through and carries the explosive to a full and controlled detonation.