A natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes

Abstract

The present invention discloses a natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes, which comprises a collection unit, a heating unit and a suction unit. The collection unit includes a collection cover and a collection blanket covering the outer wall of the collection cover. The edge of the bottom of the collection blanket extends outward to form a protruding part. The heating unit is arranged below the protruding part of the collection blanket. The suction unit is connected to the collection cover. The collection unit is used to cover the submarine mud volcano for natural gas collection. The heating unit is used to heat the natural gas hydrate in the shallow surface sediments so that the natural gas hydrate decomposes into water and natural gas. The suction unit is used to suck the natural gas collected by the collection unit. The present invention can effectively collect the natural gas released by the mud volcano in a slow eruption state and the natural gas generated by the decomposition of the natural gas hydrate in the shallow surface sediments, which will help to alleviate the current energy crisis, seawater acidification and greenhouse effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a deep - sea resource cultivation and collection device, and particularly to a natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes. Background Art

[0002] Submarine mud volcanoes are a special type of cold seep and natural gas hydrate surface feature, characterized by intermittent eruptions and the formation of natural gas hydrates in shallow - surface sediments. In addition, when a submarine mud volcano erupts, it releases a large amount of natural gas and mud. However, most of the eruptions of submarine mud volcanoes release natural gas and mud slowly. Moreover, in the deep - sea seabed environment, the heat generated during the eruption is absorbed by seawater and cannot reach a high temperature.

[0003] Since there is also mud eruption at the location of submarine mud volcano eruptions, the number of biological groups such as shellfish around the areas where mud and gas erupt simultaneously is relatively small. Currently, it is found that at the center of mud volcano eruptions, the organisms are mainly bacterial mats. Therefore, when developing mud volcanoes, it can largely avoid hindering and damaging biological communities such as shellfish. At the same time, the submarine mud volcano itself is a cold seep structure that continuously erupts gas, and the main component of the gas it erupts is natural gas. When a large amount of natural gas enters the ocean water and even the atmosphere, it will cause seawater acidification and exacerbate the greenhouse effect. However, natural gas can be used as a clean energy source and a raw material for modern industrial production. If the natural gas released from the slowly erupting mud volcanoes and the natural gas generated by the decomposition of natural gas hydrates in shallow - surface sediments can be collected, it will be beneficial to alleviate the current energy crisis, seawater acidification, and the greenhouse effect. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes, which can alleviate the problems of the current energy crisis, seawater acidification, and the greenhouse effect.

[0005] In order to achieve the above - mentioned purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] A natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes, characterized in that: it includes a collection unit, a heating unit, and a suction unit. The collection unit includes a collection cover and a collection blanket covering the outer wall of the collection cover. The edge of the bottom of the collection blanket extends outward to form a protruding part. The heating unit is arranged below the protruding part of the collection blanket, and the suction unit is connected to the collection cover;

[0007] The collection unit is used to cover the submarine mud volcano for natural gas collection;

[0008] The heating unit is used to heat the natural gas hydrates in the shallow - surface sediments to decompose the natural gas hydrates into water and natural gas;

[0009] The suction unit is used to suction the natural gas collected by the collection unit.

[0010] Preferably, the collection hood is a hollow conical structure, and the top of the collection hood is connected to the suction unit.

[0011] Preferably, it further includes a fixing unit, and the fixing unit includes a number of heavy objects for fixing the collection unit on the submarine mud volcano, and the heavy objects are evenly distributed on the convex part of the collection blanket.

[0012] Preferably, the heavy object is a heavy anchor or a formation expansion anchor bolt.

[0013] Preferably, the collection unit further includes a first heat insulation layer, and the first heat insulation layer is arranged on the bottom surface of the convex part of the collection blanket.

[0014] Preferably, the heating unit includes an electric heating grid, and the first heat insulation layer is located between the convex part of the collection blanket and the electric heating grid.

[0015] Preferably, the collection unit further includes a second heat insulation layer, and the second heat insulation layer is arranged on the inner wall of the collection hood.

[0016] Preferably, the suction unit includes a suction valve and a shipborne suction system. The shipborne suction system includes a suction pipeline, a fan and a gas storage tank. The input end of the suction valve is communicated with the collection hood, the output end of the suction valve is connected to the input end of the fan through the suction pipeline, and the output end of the fan is connected to the input end of the gas storage tank.

[0017] Preferably, it further includes an energy supply system. The input end of the energy supply system is connected to the output end of the gas storage tank, and the output end of the energy supply system is connected to the heating unit.

[0018] Preferably, the energy supply system includes a gas energy supply system, a wind energy supply system and a solar energy supply system. The input end of the gas energy supply system is connected to the output end of the gas storage tank. The heating unit and the fan are both electrically connected to the gas energy supply system, the heating unit and the fan are both electrically connected to the wind energy supply system, and the heating unit and the fan are both connected to the solar energy supply system.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The collection unit is used to collect the natural gas released from the submarine mud volcano, and a variety of energy supply systems are combined for energy supply to achieve environmental protection operations. At the same time, the natural gas released from the mud volcano in a slow eruption state and the natural gas generated by the decomposition of natural gas hydrates in shallow surface sediments are collected, which is beneficial to alleviating the current energy crisis, seawater acidification and greenhouse effect. Description of the Drawings

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes of the present invention.

[0021] In the figure: 1 - collection unit; 11 - collection blanket; 111 - protruding part; 12 - collection cover; 13 - first heat insulation layer; 14 - second heat insulation layer; 2 - electric heating grid; 3 - suction unit; 31 - suction valve; 32 - suction pipeline; 33 - fan; 34 - gas storage tank; 4 - heavy object; 5 - energy supply system. Specific embodiments

[0022] The following is a description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are only for the purpose of illustrating and explaining the present invention, and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0023] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0024] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations.

[0025] Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, the present invention will be further described:

[0026] As Figure 1As shown in the figure, a natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes is applicable to mud volcanoes in a slow eruption state in cold seep areas. It includes a collection unit 1, a heating unit, and a suction unit 3. The collection unit 1 includes a collection hood 12 and a collection blanket 11 covering the outer wall of the collection hood 12. The edge of the bottom of the collection blanket 11 extends outward to form a protrusion 111. The suction unit 3 is connected to the collection hood 12. The collection unit 1 is used to cover the mud volcano for natural gas collection. The heating unit is used to heat the natural gas hydrate in the shallow surface sediment to decompose the natural gas hydrate into water and natural gas. The suction unit 3 is used to suck the natural gas collected by the collection unit 1.

[0027] Specifically, in this embodiment, both the collection blanket 11 and the collection hood 12 of the collection unit 1 are made of polymer materials and have relatively stable physical and chemical properties. The collection unit 1 is stably covered on the entire mud volcano by evenly distributing heavy objects 4 on the protrusion 111 of the collection blanket 11. Preferably, the heavy objects 4 are heavy anchors or formation expansion anchor bolts. Using heavy anchors or formation expansion anchor bolts makes the protrusion 111 of the collection blanket 11 closely adhere to the area outside the non-eruption opening of the mud volcano, so that the protrusion 111 of the collection blanket 11 forms an approximately sealed state with the seabed, and the collection hood 12 is fixedly covered at the mud volcano eruption opening. When collecting natural gas, since the collection hood 12 is a hollow conical structure and the collection blanket 11 covers the outer wall of the collection hood 12, and the top of the collection hood 12 is connected to the suction unit 3, the natural gas released by the mud volcano directly enters the collection hood 12. Since natural gas is insoluble in water and its density is much lower than that of seawater, the natural gas collected in the collection hood 12 will rise to the upper layer of the collection hood 12, and then the suction unit 3 is used for suction. At the same time, the heating unit arranged below the protrusion 111 of the collection blanket 11 is used to heat the natural gas hydrate deposited on the shallow surface, so that the natural gas hydrate is decomposed into water and natural gas by heating. Since the protrusion 111 of the collection blanket 11 forms an approximately sealed state with the seabed, most of the natural gas decomposed from the natural gas hydrate will eventually move to the upper layer of the collection hood 12, and then the suction unit 3 is used for suction.

[0028] As Figure 1 shown in the figure, the collection unit 1 further includes a first heat insulation layer 13. The first heat insulation layer 13 is arranged on the bottom surface of the protrusion 111 of the collection blanket 11. Preferably, the heating unit includes an electric heating mesh 2, and the first heat insulation layer 13 is located between the protrusion 111 of the collection blanket 11 and the electric heating mesh 13.

[0029] Specifically, affected by submarine environmental factors, submarine mud volcanoes cannot generate excessively high temperatures. The natural gas released by submarine mud volcanoes forms natural gas hydrates in the shallow surface sediments under the conditions of low temperature and high pressure in the submarine (hydrate stability zone). In this embodiment, a first heat insulation layer 13 is provided on the bottom surface of the convex portion 111 of the collection blanket 11. Preferably, the collection unit 1 further includes a second heat insulation layer 14, and the second heat insulation layer 14 is provided on the inner wall of the collection cover 12. Then, an electric heating grid 2 is provided on the first heat insulation layer 13. Since the heavy object 4 on the convex portion 111 of the collection blanket 11 makes the convex portion 111 of the collection blanket 11 form an approximately sealed state with the seabed, when collecting natural gas, the electric heating grid 2 is used to heat the natural gas hydrates in the shallow surface sediments, promoting the decomposition of natural gas hydrates into water and natural gas. At the same time, both the first heat insulation layer 13 and the second heat insulation layer 14 play a role in heat insulation and heat preservation, avoiding a large amount of heat loss generated by the electric heating grid 2, and effectively ensuring the heating efficiency of the electric heating grid 2.

[0030] As Figure 1 shown, the suction unit 3 includes a suction valve 31 and a shipborne suction system. The shipborne suction system includes a suction pipeline 32, a fan 33, and a gas storage tank 34. The input end of the suction valve 31 is communicated with the collection cover 12, the output end of the suction valve 31 is connected to the input end of the fan 33 through the suction pipeline 32, and the output end of the fan 33 is connected to the input end of the gas storage tank 34.

[0031] Specifically, when the suction unit 3 described in this embodiment collects natural gas, the input end of the fan 33 is connected to the output end of the suction valve 31 provided at the vertex of the collection cover 12 through the suction pipeline 32. Under the suction action of the fan 33, the natural gas sequentially passes through the suction valve 31, the suction pipeline 32, and the fan 33, and finally enters the gas storage tank 34.

[0032] As Figure 1 shown, it further includes an energy supply system 5. The input end of the energy supply system 5 is connected to the output end of the gas storage tank 34, and the output end of the energy supply system 5 is connected to the heating unit. Preferably, the energy supply system 5 includes a gas energy supply system, a wind energy supply system, and a solar energy supply system. The input end of the gas energy supply system is connected to the output end of the gas storage tank 34. The heating unit and the fan 33 are both electrically connected to the gas energy supply system, the heating unit and the fan 33 are both electrically connected to the wind energy supply system, and the heating unit and the fan 33 are both connected to the solar energy supply system.

[0033] Specifically, the energy supply system 5 includes a gas energy supply system, a wind energy supply system, and a solar energy supply system. Among them, the gas energy supply system is the main energy supply system, and the wind energy supply system and the solar energy supply system are auxiliary energy supply systems. The gas energy supply system obtains gas from the gas storage tank 34 for combustion to generate thermal power, and supplies most of the electric energy required during operation to the electric heating network 2 and the fan 33 through cables. The wind energy supply system and the solar energy supply system respectively generate electricity using wind energy and solar energy, and supply part of the electric energy required during operation to the electric heating network 2 and the fan 33 through cables, thereby realizing the environmental protection operation of the natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes described in the present invention.

[0034] For those skilled in the art, various corresponding changes and deformations can be made according to the technical solutions and concepts described above, and all these changes and deformations should fall within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes, characterized in that: It includes a collection unit, a heating unit and a suction unit. The collection unit includes a collection cover and a collection blanket covering the outer wall of the collection cover. The edge of the bottom of the collection blanket extends outward to form a protruding part. The heating unit is arranged below the protruding part of the collection blanket. The suction unit is connected to the collection cover; The collection unit is used for covering a submarine mud volcano to collect natural gas; The heating unit is used for heating natural gas hydrate in shallow surface sediments to decompose the natural gas hydrate into water and natural gas; The suction unit is used for sucking the natural gas collected by the collection unit; The collection cover is a hollow conical structure, and the top of the collection cover is connected to the suction unit; The collection unit further includes a first heat insulation layer, and the first heat insulation layer is arranged on the bottom surface of the protruding part of the collection blanket; The heating unit includes an electric heating grid, and the first heat insulation layer is located between the protruding part of the collection blanket and the electric heating grid; The collection unit further includes a second heat insulation layer, and the second heat insulation layer is arranged on the inner wall of the collection cover; It further includes a fixing unit. The fixing unit includes a number of weights for fixing the collection unit on the submarine mud volcano. The weights are evenly distributed on the protruding part of the collection blanket, and the weights are heavy anchors or formation expansion anchor bolts.

2. The natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes according to claim 1, wherein: The suction unit includes a suction valve and a shipborne suction system. The shipborne suction system includes a suction pipeline, a fan and a gas storage tank. The input end of the suction valve is communicated with the collection cover. The output end of the suction valve is connected to the input end of the fan through the suction pipeline. The output end of the fan is connected to the input end of the gas storage tank.

3. The natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes according to claim 2, wherein: It further includes an energy supply system. The input end of the energy supply system is connected to the output end of the gas storage tank. The heating unit and the suction unit are both electrically connected to the energy supply system.

4. The natural gas collection device applicable to submarine mud volcanoes according to claim 3, characterized in that: The energy supply system includes a gas energy supply system, a wind energy supply system and a solar energy supply system. The input end of the gas energy supply system is connected to the output end of the gas storage tank. The heating unit and the fan are both electrically connected to the gas energy supply system. The heating unit and the fan are both electrically connected to the wind energy supply system. The heating unit and the fan are both connected to the solar energy supply system.

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