Thayer Lindsley

The BlastPED Remote

The PED Transmission system simplifies the Installation

FALCONBRIDGE CHOSE BLASTPED FOR THAYER LINDSLEY MINE

MINE: THAYER LINDSLEY
OWNER: FALCONBRIDGE
TYPE: UNDERGROUND NICKEL
LOCATION: CANADA, ON

BACKGROUND

Thayer Lindsley engineers determined that the introduction of a centralized blasting system would give them increased leevls of productivity and safety. After reviewing a number of options, including the traditional hard wired options of cable networks, BlastPED was chosen as being the most cost effetive, as well as offering scope of for other communication add-ons (see justification section below for details).

The PED transmission system version of BlastPED was chosen because of its inherent reliability and simplicity of operation.

COMPOSITION

The system uses a 1,800 m long PED antenna to provide signal coverage to all areas of the mine. Six remote BlastPED Receiver/Initiators are in use.

DESCRIPTION

The PED Transmission System uses a 1,800 m (5,900 ft) antenna that runs down the service ramp form 1035m Level to 1190m Level, then back up the shaft to 1035m Level. From this relatively small antenna full signal coverage is achieved in all active mining areas (from 670m Level to 1410m Level). The PED Headend is loacted underground at the 1190 Electrical Sub-Station with a fibre optic link back to the surface where the BlastPED PC is located in a mine office. Six remote BlastPED units provide firing capability to all areas of the mine where and when they are required.

JUSTIFICATION

Thayer Lindsay engineers selected BlastPED after reviewing hardwired options to achieve Central Blasting capabilities. The engineers saw significant advantages in using BlastPED,these included:

• Lower initial installation price, particularly as their mining plan calls for production from numerous zones which are separated by significant distances within the mine.
• Significant cost savings in terms of minimal ongoing maintenance costs.
• Initial system infrastructure expected to cover for life of the mine.
• Significant advantages available through add-on systems for Personal Emergency Signalling as well as simple contact switching on fixed plant (see picture, left, of ControlPED Receiver). In fact, the initial installation planning was done with a view to migrate to these value-added technologies later on.