Mineral lifting system and mineral lifting method

Abstract

A mineral lifting system, S includes a seabed working machine 13, having an excavator 131, excavating minerals at a seabed, and a slurry pump 132, sucking in and pumping a solid-liquid mixture of the minerals and seawater, a generator, supplying electric power to the seabed working machine 13 by an electric power cable 12, a main float 20, a mineral lifting pipe 21, conveying the solid-liquid mixture to the main float 20 side, auxiliary floats 22, mounted Co the mineral lifting pipe 21 at predetermined intervals and imparting a buoyancy, and a sorting unit 3, sorting and collecting the minerals from the solid-liquid mixture conveyed to the main float 20 side.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of Japan Application No. 3015-182281 filed on Aug. 28, 2015 with the Japanese Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.Technical Field[0002]The present invention relates to a mineral lifting[0003]system and a mineral lifting method -for mining and mineral lifting of valuable metals and other mineral resources present on a seabed.Background Art[0004]For example, an art, by which sand iron, tin, etc., contained in seabed sand in a shallow sea of approximately 20 m water depth, are sucked in together with the sand by a pump and conveyed onto land, has been established and is already being put to practical use industrially. Also, an art, by which bedrock, etc., containing mineral ore, is pulverized and fragmented at such a shallow seabed, is an art that is widely used in the mining field.[0005]However in recent years, it has become clear, from actual surveys, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a mineral lifting system and method that can safely and efficiently transport mineral ore from deep seabed to a ship on the surface. The system includes a pump system to convey the seawater containing the mineral ore, and a mineral lifting pipe that is designed to prevent it from dropping off due to its own weight. This eliminates the need for a larger ship to support the lifting pipe and ensures safety during rough sea conditions. The technical effects of this invention are improved safety and efficiency in mineral transportation.

Problems solved by technology

However, an art for conveying the mineral ore, which has been pulverized in the deep sea, to above a sea surface has yet to be established.

Although pump conveying and mechanical type (bucket type) conveying may be considered as conveying arts, mechanical types are extremely low in productivity and presently, pump type arrangements are mainly proposed.

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