DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY® drives efficiencies in Australian conditions
Document type: Case Study

DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY® drives
 efficiencies in Australian conditions

Project Background Technology Applied
DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY® IN AUSTRALIA BENEFITS OF DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY
Dyno Nobel introduced the DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY (ΔE) Dyno Nobel’s DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY technology
bulk delivery system into the Australian m arket in 2018. The provides the Australian m ining industry w ith a unique bulk
first trials of the system took place in July 2018 at a Western em ulsion loading system.
Australian gold m ine and w as later dem onstrated at an iron
 This innovation aim s to increase process efficiencies and
ore m ine in the Pilbara.
 productivity, w hile allow ing for blast optim isation to aid in
Both dem onstrations proved successful and the customer reduction of total m ining unit costs.
subsequently approved extended trials in order to validate
the system on several m ine sites. These trials com menced DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
during the last quarter of 2019. ΔE technology is a 100% em ulsion product and delivery
 system , with the ability to alter the em ulsion density, in real
 tim e w ithin individual blastholes through End of Hose
 Gassing (EOHG) technology as show n below .

Project Goals
ADDING VALUE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
The goal of the trials w as to prove how the system can add
value throughout the entire m ining process.
A successful result w ould show pos itive im pacts to a
custom er’s value chain such as:
 • Increased payloads and delivery rates
 • Reduction of overall pow der factors
 The system can load up to four distinct segm ents in each
 • Ability to tailor specific energy placem ent w ithin a
 blasthole in a single pass. Measurement While Drilling
 single blasthole (MWD) data is captured and set to a specific energy
 • Detonation characteristics over that of traditional requirement using ΔE2 softw are, to optimise design with the
 bulk products and delivery systems.
 required energy placem ent in each blasthole. The aim is
 • Im proved fragm entation ultim ately to im prove the overall blasting outcom es.

DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY® drives
 efficiencies in Australian conditions

Increases to dig rates betw een 3-10% w ere achieved when
 Value Added com pared to the equivalent blasts w ith standard products.

Im proved dig rates w ere in som e cases achieved, w ith a
PROCESS EFFICIENCY GAINS reduction on pow der factors. Pum ping rates reached up to 1,000kg/m inute from the Com plex ground conditions with hard and soft banding that
delivery system. had previously seen large variances in dig rates , achieved
When com bined w ith the increased payload of the MPU, this m ore consistent and increased production rates. resulted in productivity gains of up to 30% w hen com pared
 HIGH VELOCITY OF DETONATION (VOD) READINGS
to standard MPUs and products. High order detonation of the product w as achieved w ith
PRECISION LOADING TO DESIGN VoD recordings m easuring velocities in excess of 6,000m/s. Together the ΔE2 softw are and on-board controller afforded
 These higher velocities resulted in an increased detonation
greater precision w hile delivering product down-hole. pressure created in the blasthole, up to 3.6 tim es greater
Data such as; hole num ber, collar coordinates, product than that of ANFO. Increased detonation pressure
quantity loaded, and product densities are captured and im proved fragm entation results, and at a rate even lower
can be dow nloaded at the end of every load or the end of than standard pow der factors. every shift. This allow s for pre cise reconciliation of all ZERO NOX EVENTS
products that have been loaded into the blast pattern.

t the end of every load or the end of than standard pow der factors. every shift. This allow s for pre cise reconciliation of all ZERO NOX EVENTS
products that have been loaded into the blast pattern. Over 5,000tonnes of product w as loaded, including in areas
MULTIPLE SEGMENT LOADING that typically produce fum e such as those w ith high w ater
Multi-segment loading of up to three segm ents were levels or low hole confinem ent. achieved in a single pass through the applications In all cases, there have been no reports of post blast fumes
encountered. (NOx). The higher viscosity of the ΔE product assists in
Any com bination of density segm ents can be m aintaining explosive colum n integrity and efficient
accom m odated, such as low density at the toe and higher detonation. densities nearer the collar region or vice -versa. When
m atched w ith MWD data, the ΔE2 softw are allow ed a Trial Highlights and Future Work
targeted energy placem ent according to each hole
hardness profile for this project. MATCHING ENERGY REQUIREMENT TO GROUND
INCREASED PRODUCT DELIVERY SPEEDS CONDITIONS
Pum p rates of 1000kg/m in w ere achieved w hile delivering Initial utilisation of MWD data w ith the ΔE2 softw are to
explosives into w et, dry and reactive ground conditions .

VERY SPEEDS CONDITIONS
Pum p rates of 1000kg/m in w ere achieved w hile delivering Initial utilisation of MWD data w ith the ΔE2 softw are to
explosives into w et, dry and reactive ground conditions . m atch individual hole densities to the ground hardness
 profiles, and place the right energy in the right place , saw
LOW DENSITY EMULSION DELIVERY
 reductions in unit costs while improving blast performance. ANFO equivalent densities (0.70g/cc open cup) at pump
 Further validation and utilisation of this technology is
rates of 900kg/m in through conventional gassing m ethods
 planned in upcom ing trials and site conversions . w ere achieved. Validations dow n to 0.85g/cc (open cup
density) w ere also achieved through EOHG, w ith work This w ill be done through m ultiple in-hole density segments
underw ay to further low er achievable densities using this w hich w ill continue to increase the benefits achievable with
m ethodology. the Differential Energy system .

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