Application of simulated annealing for optimization of blasting costs due to air overpressure constraints in open-pit mines

Authors

  • H. Mokhtari Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
Abstract:

Estimating the costs of blasting operations is an important parameter in open-pit mining. Blasting and rock fragmentation depend on two groups of variables. The first group consists of mass properties, which are uncontrollable, and the second one is the drill-and-blast design parameters, which can be controlled and optimized. The design parameters include burden, spacing, hole length, hole diameter, sub-drilling, charge weight, charge length, stemming length, and charge density. Blasting costs vary depending on the size of these parameters. Moreover, blasting brings about some undesirable results such as air overpressure, fly rock, back-break, and ground vibration. This paper proposes a mathematical model for estimating the costs of blasting operations in the Baghak gypsum mine. The cost of blasting operations in the objective function is divided into three parts: drilling costs, costs of blasting system, and costs of blasting labours. The decision variables used to minimize the costs include burden, spacing, hole diameter, stemming length, charge density, and charge weight. Constraints of the model include the boundary and operational limitations. Air overpressure in the mine is also anticipated as one of the model constraints. The non-linear model obtained with consideration of constraints is optimized by simulated annealing (SA). After optimizing the model by SA, the best values for the decision variables are determined. The value obtained for the cost was obtained to be equal to 2259 $ per 7700 tons for the desired block, which is less than the blasting costs in the Baghak gypsum mine.

Upgrade to premium to download articles

Sign up to access the full text

Already have an account?login

similar resources

Development of a goal programming model for optimization of truck allocation in open pit mines

Truck and shovel operations comprise approximately 60% of the total operating costs in open pit mines. In order to increase productivity and reduce the cost of mining operations, it is essential to manage the equipment used with high efficiency. In this work, the chance-constrained goal programing (CCGP) model presented by Michalakopoulos and Panagiotou is developed to determine an optimal truc...

full text

Implementation of Hyperbolic Tangent Function to Estimate Size Distribution of Rock Fragmentation by Blasting in Open Pit Mines

Rock fragmentation is one of the desired results of rock blasting. So, controlling and predicting it, has direct effects on operational costs of mining. There are different ways that could be used to predict the size distribution of fragmented rocks. Mathematical relations have been widely used in these predictions. From among three proposed mathematical relations, one was selected in this stud...

full text

Application of Simulated Annealing Technique to Non-Linear Optimization of PC-SAFT for Petroleum Reservoir Fluids

Equations of state should be tuned to reservoir conditions by PVT tests for phase behavior modeling. This tuning is achievable via an optimization method. In this work, simulated annealing algorithm is applied as a global optimization method to parameter optimization for PC-SAFT from the statistical associating fluid theory incorporating hard chain as reference fluid. The optimization parameter...

full text

An Approach to Locate an in Pit Crusher in Open Pit Mines

Transportation costs are a significant part of capital and operating costs of large open pit mines. Cost efficiency and high reliability of in pit crushing and conveying systems compared to conventional truck-shovel system makes it more appealing to be utilized in modern mining activities. In this paper the suitable location of an in pit crusher is investigated as a single hub location problem....

full text

A quantitative model for evaluation and classification of blastings in open-pit mines

By evaluation of the blasting results, a proper blast pattern can be presented. It is, therefore, essential to employ a reliable method to evaluate blastings for the effective control and optimization of the main cycle operations. This paper aims to propose a criterion for evaluating the blasting results such as the fragmentation, muckpile condition, back-break, and fly rock, and to make a poss...

full text

Determination of the largest pit with the non-negative net profit in the open pit mines

The determination of the Ultimate Pit Limit (UPL) is the first step in the open pit mine planning process. In this stage that parts of the mineral deposit that are economic to mine are determined. There are several mathematical, heuristic and meta-heuristic algorithms to determine UPL. The optimization criterion in these algorithms is maximization of the total profit whilst satisfying...

full text

My Resources

Save resource for easier access later

Save to my library Already added to my library

{@ msg_add @}


Journal title

volume 10  issue 4

pages  903- 916

publication date 2019-10-01

By following a journal you will be notified via email when a new issue of this journal is published.

Hosted on Doprax cloud platform doprax.com

copyright © 2015-2023