Energy Consumption and Fume Analysis: A Comparative Analysis of the Blasting Technique and Mechanical Excavation in a Polish Gypsum Open-Pit Mine

Andrzej Biessikirski (), Przemysław Bodziony and Michał Dworzak
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Andrzej Biessikirski: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Przemysław Bodziony: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Michał Dworzak: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management, AGH University of Krakow, 30-059 Krakow, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-28

Abstract: This article presents a comparative assessment of energy consumption and fume emissions such as NOx, CO 2 , and CO associated with the excavation of a specified gypsum volume using two mining methods (blasting and mechanical extraction). The analysis was carried out based on a case study gypsum open-pit mine in Poland where both extraction methods are applied. The findings indicate that, for the same output volume, blasting operations require significantly less energy (ranging from 1298.12 MJ to 1462.22 MJ) compared to mechanical excavation (86,654.15 MJ). Furthermore, a substantial portion of the energy in blasting operations is attributed to explosive loading and drilling (970.95 MJ). Conversely, mechanical mining results in higher fume emissions compared to blasting. However, during mechanical extraction, the fumes are dispersed over a prolonged period of 275 h, whereas blasting achieves the same gypsum volume extraction in approximately 7.5 h. The prediction model suggests that, based on the obtained data, overall gypsum extraction will decline unless new operational levels are developed or the mine is expanded. This reduction in gypsum extraction will be accompanied by a corresponding decrease in energy consumption and emission of fumes.

Keywords: energy consumption; drilling; blasting; mechanical excavation; fumes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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