Aspects of compatibility regarding the pre-1990 blasters with new categories of electric detonators

Abstract

In Romanian mining operations for the initiation of electric detonators are still used blasters manufactured before 1990. These blasters were designed and built for the initiation of electric detonators using the requirements of obsolete standards. For simultaneous initiation of a large number of electric detonators, sufficient electrical power must be supplied to all detonators within milliseconds. The time required to heat up the bridgewire until the fusehead deflagrates is a function of the voltage and the current. In order to be able to use old generation blasters for the initiation of new generation of electric detonators (that are built according to new national and European standards) a comparative analysis must be made between the requirements of the pre-1990 standards and the new standards in use.