Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Critical Analysis of Process Cycle by Numerical Modelling for Faster Development of Drives in Hard-Rock Underground Mine–A Case Study


Affiliations
1 Tummalapalle Mine, Uranium Corporation of India Ltd,Jharkhand 832 102, India
2 Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad 826 004, India
3 Department of Mining Engineering, Malla Reddy Engineering College, Hyderabad 500 014, India
 

To extract deep-seated metallic minerals, an underground mine needs to be developed at a faster rate to access the ore body safely. There are various techniques to break the rock butstill drilling and blasting is considered the cheapest. Therefore, an effort was made to reengineer the mine development cycle time in order to achieve high advance rate. This study highlights the requirement of numerical simulation in rock excavation for its stability and design through the reengineered drill and blast operations. Implementation of the findings of numerical modelling and deployment of advanced drilling equipment helped reduce the total drilling time and overall cycle time by 30.70% and 15.90% respectively, in the two cases of drilling length considered, i.e. 3.4 and 4.0 m. Subsequently, in a further modified process, where the supporting activities were avoided till the third advance, there was significant improvement in the process cycle time by 43.10% for 3.4 m drilling and 39.30% for 4.0 m drilling length. We found that 15 m advance per day can be achieved by the deployment of double boom jumbo for drilling length of 3.4 m and drive size of 4.5 m ×3.0 m.

Keywords

Drill And Blast, Linear Excavations, Mine Development, Numerical Modelling, Process Cycle Time.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Stewart, P., Ramezanzadeh, A. and Knights, P., Benchmark drill and blast and mechanical excavation advance rates for underground hard rock mine development. In Australian Mining Technology Conference, 2006, pp. 45–58.

  • Barber J., Mennie, B., Poedjono, R. and Coad, G., Common infra-structure project – Development for the Future of PT Freeport Indonesia. In Proceedings of the Ninth Underground Operators’ Conference, The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne, 2005, pp. 313–322.

  • Kalamaras, G., Carlo, A., Dinu, C., Cirvegna, G., Paolo, P. and Santucci, C., Up-to-date excavation, support, and lining solutions meet timing requirements for the first two tunnels of the 2006 winter Olympic games, Seattle, WA, United States, 2005, pp. 201–212.

  • Neumann, M., CAMIRO Safe and Rapid Development Project – Benchmarking of 12 Canadian Mine, Neumann Engineering and Mining Services, 2001.

  • http://www.downeredi.com, 2006.

  • Bruland, A., Hard-rock tunnel boring, advance rate and cutter wear. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, 1998.


Abstract Views: 405

PDF Views: 128




  • Critical Analysis of Process Cycle by Numerical Modelling for Faster Development of Drives in Hard-Rock Underground Mine–A Case Study

Abstract Views: 405  |  PDF Views: 128

Authors

K. K. Rao
Tummalapalle Mine, Uranium Corporation of India Ltd,Jharkhand 832 102, India
B. S. Choudhary
Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad 826 004, India
Ajay Ghade
Tummalapalle Mine, Uranium Corporation of India Ltd,Jharkhand 832 102, India
Chandrahas
Department of Mining Engineering, Malla Reddy Engineering College, Hyderabad 500 014, India

Abstract


To extract deep-seated metallic minerals, an underground mine needs to be developed at a faster rate to access the ore body safely. There are various techniques to break the rock butstill drilling and blasting is considered the cheapest. Therefore, an effort was made to reengineer the mine development cycle time in order to achieve high advance rate. This study highlights the requirement of numerical simulation in rock excavation for its stability and design through the reengineered drill and blast operations. Implementation of the findings of numerical modelling and deployment of advanced drilling equipment helped reduce the total drilling time and overall cycle time by 30.70% and 15.90% respectively, in the two cases of drilling length considered, i.e. 3.4 and 4.0 m. Subsequently, in a further modified process, where the supporting activities were avoided till the third advance, there was significant improvement in the process cycle time by 43.10% for 3.4 m drilling and 39.30% for 4.0 m drilling length. We found that 15 m advance per day can be achieved by the deployment of double boom jumbo for drilling length of 3.4 m and drive size of 4.5 m ×3.0 m.

Keywords


Drill And Blast, Linear Excavations, Mine Development, Numerical Modelling, Process Cycle Time.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv118%2Fi10%2F1547-1556