Geometric Explosive Charges With Concentric Density Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bulk explosives used in mining and excavation face challenges such as increased cost, variable detonation performance, noxious fumes, decreased stability, and decreased pumpability due to the use of ammonium nitrate prill blends, which affect the efficiency and effectiveness of blast energy.

Innovation Solution

The method involves loading bore holes with a detonable charge comprising energetic materials arranged in concentric zones of differing densities, where a core of lower density sensitized material is surrounded by a higher density unsensitized material, or vice versa, to increase overall explosive density while maintaining detonability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If ammonium nitrate prill blends are used in bulk explosives, then cost is reduced, but detonation performance becomes variable and noxious fumes increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoiddetonation performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The explosive charge is segmented into multiple concentric zones with different densities and compositions. The inner zone contains sensitized explosive material while the outer zone contains unsensitized or less sensitized material. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function - the sensitized inner zone ensures reliable detonation initiation while the unsensitized outer zone provides cost-effective bulk volume, thereby resolving the contradiction between cost and detonation performance reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different zones of the explosive charge are assigned different local qualities - specifically different densities and sensitization levels. The inner zone has higher sensitization for reliable detonation while the outer zone has lower sensitization for cost reduction. This local differentiation of properties allows the system to achieve both economical manufacturing and consistent detonation performance simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If ammonium nitrate prill blends are used in bulk explosives, then cost is reduced, but stability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidstability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The explosive is segmented into sensitized and unsensitized zones, where the sensitized inner zone provides stability through controlled composition while the unsensitized outer zone reduces cost. The segmentation isolates the sensitive components to a controlled region, improving overall compositional stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite explosive materials with distinct sensitized and unsensitized regions. This composite structure combines the stability benefits of sensitized explosives with the cost benefits of unsensitized materials, achieving both economic and stability objectives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If ammonium nitrate prill blends are used in bulk explosives, then cost is reduced, but pumpability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidpumpability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the explosive material by creating a density gradient through sensitization variations. The sensitized inner zone has different rheological properties that improve pumpability, while the unsensitized outer zone maintains cost effectiveness. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between cost and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If explosive density is increased to enhance blast energy, then fewer holes are needed, but detonation performance may be negatively affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblast energy efficiencyVSAvoiddetonation performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The explosive charge implements local quality differentiation with a sensitized inner zone ensuring reliable detonation initiation and propagation, while the outer zone provides additional density for enhanced blast energy. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring detonation reliability in the sensitive region while achieving higher overall density for improved productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The composite explosive structure combines sensitized and unsensitized zones, where the sensitized portion guarantees dependable detonation performance while the combined density of both zones delivers enhanced blast energy. This composite approach simultaneously achieves reliability and productivity improvements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12385730B2Geometric explosive charges and related methods

Publication Date: 2025.08.12 DYNO NOBEL INC

AI summary

Approaches to loading explosives into blast holes to provide increased explosive density can involve loading the hole with a detonable charge in which energetic material is arranged into zones of differing densities. Related systems and methods may provide for parallel independent streams of energetic material having differing densities and delivering the differentiated streams into a bore hole so as to create an explosive charge therein having a particular geometric arrangement of material from the respective streams.