DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY® improves Fragmentation by 53%
Document type: Case Study

CASE STUDY

DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY™ TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES
FRAGMENTATION BY 52.7%

 PROJECT SUMMARY
PROBLEM FOUND AND BASELINE DATA
COLLECTED
Using an optimization study that covered a 20-month
period in 2014 and 2015, the client found a high
percentage of fines in the blasted stone. The client called
in DynoConsult to help study the reasons and find a cost
effective solution.

Before the study began, an audit was conducted to validate
sound loading practices and the precision of drilling. Also,
a standard blast was conducted to determine the baseline
data on particle size and speed of the primary crusher.

The approach was to make one change at a time in the
blasting parameters to measure the impacts on variation
in particle size and crushing.

 PROJECT GOALS
IMPROVE AND REDUCE FINE PARTICLES
The project’s aim was to improve and reduce fine particles
smaller than 31.5mm. The 0.08mm passing size was not
to exceed 11% of the range from 0.08mm to 31.5mm.
Otherwise, production was rejected. A secondary goal was
to improve overall fragmentation of blasting, improving the
optimal range of 31.5mm to 1m.

The sampling methodology consisted of taking a portion
of stones after the primary crusher at every 7,000 tonnes
crushed from the blast under the study. After that, the
sample was sent for analysis to an outside laboratory.

CASE STUDY

After several trials, blast 2015-08 enabled the best overall
 TECHNOLOGY APPLIED result to be achieved. The drilling diameter was lower, at
 114mm to 121mm, the drilling pattern was reduced by
DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY, A POSSIBLE 7.8%, from 3.35m x 3.65m to 3.35m x 3.96m, and the
SOLUTION loading level was higher, at 0.97kg/m3 instead of 0.90kg/
 m3.
The technology involved in the study was DIFFERENTIAL
ENERGY technology (TITAN® ∆E), which allows alteration Also, the average density in the hole was altered, from
of the segment gasification rate (max. 4 segments) in a 1.20g/cc to 1.13g/cc. This lower average density in the
single hole and in a single loading phase. hole was achieved by using three-segment DIFFERENTIAL
 ENERGY (bottom segment 1,26g/cc, middle segment
For this study, more than 15 blasts were required to 1.15g/cc and upper segment 1.10g/cc).
determine the parameters best suited to meeting the
project’s goals. A decrease in 0.08mm passing fines from 10.8% to 5.7%
 was observed in comparison to the benchmark blast and
The benchmark blasting was done based on the quarry’s from 6.5% to 5.7% in comparison to blast 2014-12.
conventional parameters (blast no. 2014-08). In examining
this blast, it was possible to determine the distribution
curve of the fines. It was found that the 0.08mm passing
size came to 10.8%, close to the 11% limit (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Parameters for blast no. 2014-08

Graph 1: Distribution of fines from 0.08mm to 31.5mm

In blast 2014-12, the drilling parameter was retained and
the loading level was much the same: 0.90kg/m3 for blast
2014-08 and 0.92kg/m3 for blast 2014-12. The use of
two-segment differential energy allowed the average load
density of 1.2g/cc to be maintained in the hole (see Figure
2: bottom segment 1.26g/cc and upper segment 1.15 g/
cc).

After blasting, an improvement in the 0.08mm passing
level was observed, from 10.8% to 6.5% (see Figure 2). Figure 2: Parameters for blast no. 2014-12

CASE STUDY

Figure 3: Parameters for blast no. 2015-08

Figure 4: Fine passing percentage (0.08mm to 31.5mm)
 VALUE ADDED
DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY HELPS
IMPROVE FRAGMENTATION
DIFFERENTIAL ENERGY played a major role in improved
fragmentation. In Figure 4 on particle size analysis of
fines, the effects can be seen. Among other things, in
curves 2014-12 and 2015-08, an improvement in 0.08mm
passing fines can be analyzed, from 10.8% to 5.7%
passing stones, representing a 52.7% improvement.
 Figure 5: Distribution of fragmentation based on complete
In overall blasting, several other positive improvements
 blasting
were obtained in fragmentation (see Figure 5).

A lower proportion between 0mm and 31.5mm, from
21.02% to 15.56%, a 26% improvement.

The optimal fragmentation range, between 31.5mm and
1m, is maintained, marking an increase from 76.97% to
81.31%, a 5.33% improvement.

To conclude, it was shown that the use of DIFFERENTIAL
ENERGY (TITAN ∆E) helps improve fragmentation to obtain
a desired particle size, due to energy being distributed in
the right places.

52.7%
 Fragmentation
 Improvement

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