Muon Tomography for Block Cave Mine Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring and modeling block cave mines lack the capability to accurately track the spatial and temporal evolution of key features, such as the cave back and air gap, which is crucial for operational safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing muon detectors to detect and analyze muon interactions, determining directional muon intensities, and optimizing an objective function to obtain optimal model parameters for a spatial and temporal model of the block cave mine, incorporating prior mine information and additional measured data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional monitoring methods are used for block cave mines, then the current operational procedures can be maintained, but the capability to accurately track spatial and temporal evolution of key features (cave back and air gap) is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or electrical monitoring systems with a muon radiography system that uses cosmic ray muons to non-contactively measure density and spatial evolution of the cave back and air gap. This substitution enables accurate tracking of temporal evolution without complex mechanical sensors in the underground environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces muons as an intermediary carrier to transmit information about the underground structure. Muons pass through the rock and air gap, and their detection provides indirect but accurate measurements of the spatial and temporal evolution of key features, avoiding the need for direct contact sensors.
2Productivity
If the air gap becomes too thick, then more ore can be extracted, but a sudden collapse of rock can compress the air causing high-energy pressure waves that can damage the mine and equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring of the air gap thickness using muon radiography, providing real-time feedback to operators. By tracking the temporal evolution of the air gap, the system enables early detection of dangerous thickness increases and allows operators to take preventive actions before dangerous pressure waves can form during rock collapse.
3Measurement precision
If muon detectors are positioned at multiple locations to create accurate 3D models, then spatial resolution improves, but the system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring system into multiple independent muon detectors positioned at different locations, each measuring muon intensity along specific lines of sight. This segmentation allows the complex 3D reconstruction problem to be broken down into simpler individual measurements that can be processed and combined through tomographic algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from 2D detector measurements to 3D spatial modeling by adding the vertical dimension. Multiple detectors at different positions provide measurements that, when combined with tomographic algorithms, reconstruct the 3D structure of the cave back and air gap, enabling comprehensive spatial and temporal evolution tracking.
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 enables the creation of accurate three-dimensional and four-dimensional models of block cave mines, allowing for improved safety risk assessment and operational efficiency by monitoring the evolution of key features over time.
Implementation Method 1
detecting muons that interact with a muon detector over a time period; and determining, from the interactions, measured directional muon intensities
Implementation Method 2
Muon radiography is a method of detecting, imaging and monitoring subsurface or underground regions of interest by measuring the attenuation of subsurface muon intensity
Implementation Method 3
This directional intensity is related to the amount of matter (e.g. the integrated opacity or density of matter) along a straight-line path
Implementation Method 4
By situating detectors in different locations, radiographic images can be developed from multiple views of a region of interest, and these 2D images can be combined using tomographic algorithms to develop a 3D model of subsurface density
Data Source
AI summary
A method for modelling a block cave mine comprising: at each of a plurality of spaced apart muon detection locations located in, or in a vicinity, of the block cave mine: detecting muons that interact with a muon detector over a time period; determining, from the interactions, measured directional muon intensities for a plurality of directions intersecting at the muon detection location; and optimizing an objective function to thereby obtain optimal values for a plurality of model parameters which parameterize a model of the block cave mine, wherein the objective function attributes cost to a difference between the measured directional muon intensities at the plurality of muon detection locations and modelled directional muon intensities at the plurality of muon detection locations, the modelled directional muon intensities based at least in part on the model parameters.