Environment multi-parameter monitoring base station capable of being used for long-term working on seabed

Abstract

An environment multi-parameter monitoring base station capable of being used for long-term seafloor work is laid to the seafloor through a mother ship in a cable mode, energy is supplied through a dissolved oxygen seawater battery, long-term seafloor environment in-situ monitoring operation is carried out through carried universal and special instruments and equipment, a shore-based instruction is received to adjust a monitoring strategy, and the monitoring base station is used for monitoring the seafloor environment. Monitoring data is transmitted back to the shore-based laboratory in real time; the monitoring base station comprises a rack system, a monitoring system, a control system, a communication system, an energy supply system and a laying and recycling system; the monitoring system is used for completing in-situ monitoring operation on the influence of a seabed biochemical environment and benthos by adopting a general monitoring instrument and an extended special instrument; and the communication system is used as a signal transmission medium to perform parallel and uplink and downlink data transmission and instruction issuing so as to realize networking between the base station and each node around the base station and interaction and communication between the base station and a water surface buoy or a ship.

Description

Technical field:

[0001] The invention relates to an environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station which can be used for long-term operation on the seabed. Background technology:

[0002] With the rapid development of the global marine economy, deep-sea resources have gradually become a new hotspot for human exploration. Deep-sea resources include seabed mineral resources, natural gas hydrates, biological resources and energy, etc. The development of these resources is of great significance to meeting human needs and promoting economic development. In recent years, with the rapid development of clean energy technology, deep-sea metal mineral mining has once again been put on the agenda, but the environmental problems caused by mining have not yet been solved. How to achieve green development of deep-sea minerals has become an important part of the development and utilization of seabed resources.

[0003] However, existing deep-sea exploration equipment often does not have the function of analyzing the impact of deep-sea resource exploration and utilization on the marine environment when in use. The transmission of corresponding data and instructions mainly relies on signal cables, which increases the equipment weight of the base station and increases the risk of exploration missions. At the same time, the energy batteries used in conjunction with deep-sea exploration equipment are ready-made battery packs or battery groups, which are equipped after strict calculations, resulting in a mismatch between the remaining battery capacity and the battery weight, greatly increasing the risk of failure of the exploration mission and equipment recovery due to problems such as the inability to transmit signals and the inability to jettison equipment caused by insufficient power supply. In addition, since the acoustic communicator of existing deep-sea exploration equipment is directly installed on the bottom equipment of the seat without sufficient working height for the acoustic communicator, the acoustic communicator cannot reliably transmit signals and instructions, resulting in the lack of real-time data signal transmission of the deep-sea exploration equipment. Summary of the invention:

[0004] The embodiment of the present invention provides an environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term seabed work. The structure is reasonably designed and data signal transmission and command issuance are based on a wireless local area network. The data signal can be transmitted in real time. Because the base station is signal cable-free, the weight of the detection equipment is reduced and the use of floating materials is reduced. At the same time, "rechargeable lithium battery + self-generating seawater battery" is used to provide energy for the control system and drive system in the equipment to ensure sufficient power supply, and can provide a reliable working height for the matching acoustic communicator, acquire monitoring data in real time, increase the real-time and reliability of the signal transmission of the acoustic communicator, and can be networked with other underwater monitoring tools and surface buoys to form a three-dimensional monitoring network. It is equipped with a variety of sensors to carry out long-term continuous monitoring of the seabed, solving the problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above technical problems is:

[0006] An environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term work on the seabed. The monitoring base station is deployed to the seabed via a mother ship in a cabled manner and powered by a dissolved oxygen seawater battery. It carries out long-term in-situ monitoring of the seabed environment through general and special instruments and equipment, receives shore-based instructions to adjust the monitoring strategy, and transmits the monitoring data back to the shore-based laboratory in real time.

[0007] The monitoring base station includes a rack system, a monitoring system, a control system, a communication system, an energy supply system and a deployment and recovery system; the monitoring system is used to use general monitoring instruments and extended special instruments to complete the in-situ monitoring of the impact on the seabed biochemical environment and benthic organisms; the communication system is used as a signal transmission medium to transmit parallel and uplink and downlink data and issue instructions, to achieve networking between the base station and the nodes around the base station, and interaction and communication between the base station and the surface buoy or ship; the energy supply system is used to use the power supply mode of dissolved oxygen seawater battery + lithium battery to provide energy for the base station for a long time;

[0008] The deployment and recovery system includes a base station deployment system and a base station recovery system, and has two modes: fixed-point deployment with cable and self-deployment without cable. The deployment and recovery system uses the buoyancy formed by the base station after acoustic communication dumping to autonomously rise to the water surface to improve the deployment and recovery efficiency and flexibility;

[0009] The rack system includes four layers, top, middle and bottom, and a sonotrode float. The rack system releases the sonotrode float through a releaser. Under the action of its own buoyancy, the sonotrode float is suspended above the rack system.

[0010] The rack system is welded with high-strength titanium alloy pipes and plates that are resistant to seawater corrosion. The overall shape is approximately a quadrilateral, and is divided into a top platform, an upper platform, a middle platform and a lower platform; the top platform is equipped with an underwater acoustic communication device, a beacon, a fuse release mechanism and a float, the upper platform is the main floating body installation layer, the middle platform is the monitoring instrument installation layer, and the lower platform is equipped with a power supply system, a control system and a throwing system, forming the body platform of the base station.

[0011] A buoyancy system is installed on the upper platform of the rack system to provide upward buoyancy for the rack system. Solid polymer floating materials are installed around the upper platform to provide part of the buoyancy for the rack system. Glass floats installed inside the upper platform provide another part of the buoyancy for the rack system. The solid polymer floats and glass floats constitute the main buoyancy system of the base station, while ensuring that the center of buoyancy of the equipment is always at the top and maintains a certain distance from the center of gravity of the equipment, thereby effectively ensuring the posture of the equipment underwater.

[0012] The monitoring system includes general instruments such as CTD monitoring instruments, ADCP sensors, pH monitoring instruments, redox potential monitoring instruments, conductivity monitoring instruments, dissolved oxygen monitoring instruments, optical turbidity monitoring instruments and optical chlorophyll monitoring instruments, which constitute a standard monitoring system for the base station and can complete basic seabed environmental monitoring. At the same time, an expansion space interface is reserved, which can be equipped with digital holographic imaging equipment, binocular cameras, optical detectors for plume redeposition layer thickness and other special monitoring instruments as needed to complete special environmental monitoring requirements such as seabed mining plume monitoring.

[0013] The energy supply system includes an energy storage battery and a seawater battery system. The energy storage battery is a rechargeable lithium battery that supplies power to the base station. The self-generating seawater battery is independently boosted by the power management system and then connected in parallel to charge the energy storage battery, thereby ensuring the long-term power supply demand of the base station.

[0014] When the voltage of the energy storage battery is lower than the usage requirements of the base station, the base station will automatically switch to the backup battery power supply mode, and the base station will enter the safe working mode again. When the energy storage battery power reaches the requirements specified by the base station, it will automatically switch to the normal working mode.

[0015] The base station adopts long-distance hydroacoustic communication and underwater multi-node hydroacoustic networking, so that multiple portable nodes outside the station and its base station, surface buoys, satellites and shore-based control consoles can form a deep-sea remote controlled local area network system through acoustic communication devices and WI FI to achieve network connection and data transmission of multiple nodes in the base station area and the issuance of control instructions;

[0016] An acoustic communication system is installed in the middle of the top platform of the rack system. After the base station is installed, the fuse mechanism is triggered by the bottom switch, so that the acoustic communication system floats down to a certain height from the seabed due to the buoyancy, ensuring the long-distance operation and networking requirements of the acoustic communication machine; the top platform of the rack system can also be connected to the surface buoy system through the mooring system;

[0017] The acoustic communication machine is connected to the base station through an anti-torsion armored cable assembly, which can not only limit the floating height of the acoustic communication system, but also ensure that the acoustic communication system cannot float freely indefinitely and is relatively fixed in position with the base station;

[0018] The acoustic communication machine is connected to the rack system through a hollow swivel and an umbilical cable, so as to ensure that the acoustic communication system and the umbilical cable are relatively stationary and reduce the torsional force on the umbilical cable.

[0019] The base station can be deployed at a fixed point with a cable, or it can be deployed free-fall without a cable using its own counterweight. After the base station completes its mission, it can be recovered in a non-powered self-floating manner through its own buoyancy system. Iridium / Beidou beacons and optical beacons are installed on the top of the rack to perform satellite positioning and assist in searching for targets at sea.

[0020] A dumping system is provided on the rack system, and the dumping system includes a releaser assembly and a counterweight assembly. The dumping system adds weight to the equipment before the base station is deployed to improve the deployment efficiency. It is necessary to artificially add a counterweight block with high density and small volume at the bottom of the base station equipment to achieve the purpose of rapid deployment. After the base station task is completed, the releaser assembly starts the release program after receiving the signal of the recovery equipment, and releases the counterweight block. The weight of the equipment in the water will be less than the buoyancy of the buoyancy system, and the equipment will float up to the water surface by itself through the buoyancy.

[0021] The releaser assembly includes an acoustic releaser and a mechanical releaser. The acoustic releaser uses the principle of acoustic communication to send instructions. After receiving the release signal, the acoustic releaser will perform a load-dumping action to throw away the counterweight. After the mechanical releaser receives the load-dumping signal using a transmission cable, it executes the load-dumping instruction, starts the load-dumping action, and throws away the counterweight.

[0022] The buoyancy system includes a glass float and a polymer lightweight composite float material. The glass float is a split structure, divided into an upper hemisphere and a lower hemisphere. After the overall control system is installed in the glass float, the upper hemisphere and the lower hemisphere are installed into a complete sealed float to prevent water leakage from damaging electronic components.

[0023] The signal transmission and power transmission between each glass float are completed through cables. The watertight connectors installed on the surface of the float at both ends of the cable can play a sealing role to prevent the glass float from leaking. The glass floats are evenly distributed on the two platforms to provide partial buoyancy for the base station. The polymer lightweight composite floating material is evenly distributed around the upper platform and the top platform, which can not only provide partial buoyancy for the base station, but also provide protection for the equipment's anti-collision.

[0024] The present invention adopts the above structure, uses a rack system as a carrier of the base station, and welds the legs and multi-layer platforms into one body, and places different functional components on different platforms; uses a dumping system to add a counterweight block to the bottom of the base station before the base station is deployed to increase the weight of the equipment, and releases the counterweight block after the base station mission is completed to improve the deployment efficiency and recovery efficiency; uses a buoyancy system to provide an upward buoyancy for the base station, and installs the overall control system in a glass float of the buoyancy system; uses an acoustic communication system as a signal transmission medium to transmit uplink and downlink data and instructions, and realizes interaction and communication between the base station and the nodes around the base station, and between the base station and the surface buoy; uses a monitoring system to complete in-situ monitoring of the impact of mining plume redeposition on the seabed biochemical environment and benthic organisms; uses a seawater battery system to provide energy for the base station for a long time, and also provides power for the mining plume impact monitoring on the portable nodes outside the base station and the overall control system of the acoustic communication system for data collection, which has the advantages of accuracy, reliability, safety and practicality. Description of the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the unreleased structure of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the release and dumping of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the rack of the present invention.

[0028] Among them, 1. counterweight, 2. frame, 3. seawater battery, 4. acoustic releaser, 5. buoy, 6. sonar float, 7. optical beacon, 8. Iridium beacon, 9. binocular camera, 10. laser holographic imaging equipment, 11. combined sensor, 12. mechanical releaser, 13. lifting parts, 14. umbilical cable, 15. buoyancy material. Specific implementation method:

[0029] In order to clearly illustrate the technical features of the present solution, the present invention is described in detail below through specific implementation methods and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0030] like Figure 1-3 As shown in the figure, a multi-parameter environmental monitoring base station that can be used for long-term seabed work is deployed to the seabed by a mother ship in a cabled manner and powered by a dissolved oxygen seawater battery. It carries out long-term in-situ seabed environmental monitoring operations through general and special instruments and equipment, receives shore-based instructions to adjust monitoring strategies, and transmits monitoring data back to the shore-based laboratory in real time.

[0031] The monitoring base station includes a rack system, a monitoring system, a control system, a communication system, an energy supply system and a deployment and recovery system; the monitoring system is used to use general monitoring instruments and extended special instruments to complete the in-situ monitoring of the impact on the seabed biochemical environment and benthic organisms; the communication system is used as a signal transmission medium to transmit parallel and uplink and downlink data and issue instructions, to achieve networking between the base station and the nodes around the base station, and interaction and communication between the base station and the surface buoy or ship; the energy supply system is used to use the power supply mode of dissolved oxygen seawater battery + lithium battery to provide energy for the base station for a long time;

[0032] The deployment and recovery system includes a base station deployment system and a base station recovery system, and has two modes: fixed-point deployment with cable and self-deployment without cable. The deployment and recovery system uses the buoyancy formed by the base station after acoustic communication dumping to autonomously rise to the water surface to improve the deployment and recovery efficiency and flexibility;

[0033] The rack system includes four layers, top, middle and bottom, and a sonotrode float. The rack system releases the sonotrode float through a releaser. Under the action of its own buoyancy, the sonotrode float is suspended above the rack system.

[0034] The rack system is welded with high-strength titanium alloy pipes and plates that are resistant to seawater corrosion. The overall shape is approximately a quadrilateral, and is divided into a top platform, an upper platform, a middle platform and a lower platform; the top platform is equipped with an underwater acoustic communication device, a beacon, a fuse release mechanism and a float, the upper platform is the main floating body installation layer, the middle platform is the monitoring instrument installation layer, and the lower platform is equipped with a power supply system, a control system and a throwing system, forming the body platform of the base station.

[0035] A buoyancy system is installed on the upper platform of the rack system to provide upward buoyancy for the rack system. Solid polymer floating materials are installed around the upper platform to provide part of the buoyancy for the rack system. Glass floats installed inside the upper platform provide another part of the buoyancy for the rack system. The solid polymer floats and glass floats constitute the main buoyancy system of the base station, while ensuring that the center of buoyancy of the equipment is always at the top and maintains a certain distance from the center of gravity of the equipment, thereby effectively ensuring the posture of the equipment underwater.

[0036] The monitoring system includes general instruments such as CTD monitoring instruments, ADCP sensors, pH monitoring instruments, redox potential monitoring instruments, conductivity monitoring instruments, dissolved oxygen monitoring instruments, optical turbidity monitoring instruments and optical chlorophyll monitoring instruments, which constitute a standard monitoring system for the base station and can complete basic seabed environmental monitoring. At the same time, an expansion space interface is reserved, which can be equipped with digital holographic imaging equipment, binocular cameras, optical detectors for plume redeposition layer thickness and other special monitoring instruments as needed to complete special environmental monitoring requirements such as seabed mining plume monitoring.

[0037] The energy supply system includes an energy storage battery and a seawater battery system. The energy storage battery is a rechargeable lithium battery that supplies power to the base station. The self-generating seawater battery is independently boosted by the power management system and then connected in parallel to charge the energy storage battery, thereby ensuring the long-term power supply demand of the base station.

[0038] When the voltage of the energy storage battery is lower than the usage requirements of the base station, the base station will automatically switch to the backup battery power supply mode, and the base station will enter the safe working mode again. When the energy storage battery power reaches the requirements specified by the base station, it will automatically switch to the normal working mode.

[0039] The base station adopts long-distance hydroacoustic communication and underwater multi-node hydroacoustic networking, so that multiple portable nodes outside the station and its base station, surface buoys, satellites and shore-based control consoles can form a deep-sea remote controlled local area network system through acoustic communication devices and WI FI to achieve network connection and data transmission of multiple nodes in the base station area and the issuance of control instructions;

[0040] An acoustic communication system is installed in the middle of the top platform of the rack system. After the base station is installed, the fuse mechanism is triggered by the bottom switch, so that the acoustic communication system floats down to a certain height from the seabed due to the buoyancy, ensuring the long-distance operation and networking requirements of the acoustic communication machine; the top platform of the rack system can also be connected to the surface buoy system through the mooring system;

[0041] The acoustic communication machine is connected to the base station through an anti-torsion armored cable assembly, which can not only limit the floating height of the acoustic communication system, but also ensure that the acoustic communication system cannot float freely indefinitely and is relatively fixed in position with the base station;

[0042] The acoustic communication machine is connected to the rack system through a hollow swivel and an umbilical cable, so as to ensure that the acoustic communication system and the umbilical cable are relatively stationary and reduce the torsional force on the umbilical cable.

[0043] The base station can be deployed at a fixed point with a cable, or it can be deployed free-fall without a cable using its own counterweight. After the base station completes its mission, it can be recovered in a non-powered self-floating manner through its own buoyancy system. Iridium / Beidou beacons and optical beacons are installed on the top of the rack to perform satellite positioning and assist in searching for targets at sea.

[0044] The jettisoning system includes a releaser assembly and a counterweight assembly. Before the base station is deployed, the jettisoning system adds weight to the equipment to improve the deployment efficiency. It is necessary to artificially add a counterweight block with high density and small volume to the bottom of the base station equipment to achieve the purpose of rapid deployment. After the base station task is completed, the releaser assembly starts the release program after receiving the signal from the recovery equipment, releases the counterweight block, and the weight of the equipment in the water will be less than the buoyancy of the buoyancy system, and the equipment will float up to the water surface by itself through the buoyancy.

[0045] The releaser assembly includes an acoustic releaser and a mechanical releaser. The acoustic releaser uses the principle of acoustic communication to send instructions. After receiving the release signal, the acoustic releaser will perform a load-dumping action to throw away the counterweight. After the mechanical releaser receives the load-dumping signal using a transmission cable, it executes the load-dumping instruction, starts the load-dumping action, and throws away the counterweight.

[0046] The buoyancy system includes a glass float and a polymer lightweight composite float material. The glass float is a split structure, divided into an upper hemisphere and a lower hemisphere. After the overall control system is installed in the glass float, the upper hemisphere and the lower hemisphere are installed into a complete sealed float to prevent water leakage from damaging electronic components.

[0047] The signal transmission and power transmission between each glass float are completed through cables. The watertight connectors installed on the surface of the float at both ends of the cable can play a sealing role to prevent the glass float from leaking. The glass floats are evenly distributed on the two platforms to provide partial buoyancy for the base station. The polymer lightweight composite floating material is evenly distributed around the upper platform and the top platform, which can not only provide partial buoyancy for the base station, but also provide protection for the equipment's anti-collision.

[0048] The working principle of an environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term seabed work in an embodiment of the present invention is: data signal transmission and command issuance are based on a wireless local area network, which can not only enable real-time transmission of data signals, but also reduce the weight of the detection equipment and the use of floating materials because the base station is signal cable-free; at the same time, "rechargeable lithium battery + self-generating seawater battery" is used to provide energy for the control system and drive system in the equipment to ensure sufficient power supply, and can provide a reliable working height for the matching acoustic communicator, obtain monitoring data in real time, increase the real-time and reliability of the signal transmission work of the acoustic communicator, and can be networked with other underwater monitoring tools and surface buoys to form a three-dimensional monitoring network, carrying a variety of sensors for long-term continuous monitoring of the seabed.

[0049] Furthermore, the present application uses self-generating seawater batteries to provide energy for the control system and drive system in the equipment. As long as the amount of negative electrode metal in the self-generating seawater battery is sufficient, the carbon brush serves as the positive electrode of the battery, and the seawater battery assembly passes through the flow of ocean currents, the seawater battery will continuously provide electrical energy to the detection equipment.

[0050] This application can monitor a number of monitoring projects, including the impact of deep-sea mining plumes, and can carry a variety of sensors for continuous monitoring of the seafloor.

[0051] The overall scheme mainly includes a rack system, a monitoring system, a control system, a communication system, an energy supply system and a deployment and recovery system; the monitoring system is used to use general monitoring instruments and extended special instruments to complete the in-situ monitoring of the impact on the seabed biochemical environment and benthic organisms; the communication system is used as a signal transmission medium to transmit parallel and uplink and downlink data and issue instructions, so as to realize the networking of the base station and the nodes around the base station, and the interaction and communication between the base station and the surface buoy or ship; the energy supply system is used to use the power supply mode of dissolved oxygen seawater battery + lithium battery to provide energy for the base station for a long time; the deployment and recovery system includes two parts: the base station deployment system and the base station recovery system, which have two modes: cable fixed-point deployment and cable-free self-delivery. The deployment and recovery system uses the buoyancy formed by the base station after acoustic communication dumping to rise to the water surface autonomously, so as to improve the deployment and recovery efficiency and flexibility; the rack system includes four layers, top, middle and bottom, and a sonicator float. The rack system releases the sonicator float through a releaser, and under the action of its own buoyancy, the sonicator float is suspended above the rack system.

[0052] For the rack system, it is welded with high-strength titanium alloy pipes and plates that are resistant to seawater corrosion. The overall shape is approximately a quadrilateral, which is divided into a top platform, an upper platform, a middle platform and a lower platform. The top platform is equipped with an underwater acoustic communication device, a beacon, a fuse-type release mechanism and a float, etc. The upper platform is the main floating body installation layer, the middle platform is the monitoring instrument installation layer, and the lower platform is equipped with an energy supply system, a control system and a throwing system, forming the body platform of the base station.

[0053] Furthermore, the rack system and the acoustic communication system are connected via a hoisting assembly to ensure that the floating position of the acoustic communication system is relatively fixed after being released.

[0054] As for the buoyancy system, it is installed on the upper platform of the rack system to provide upward buoyancy for the rack system. Floating materials are installed around the upper platform to provide part of the buoyancy for the rack system. The glass float installed inside the upper platform provides another part of the buoyancy for the rack system. It ensures that the buoyancy center of the equipment is always at the top and keeps a certain distance from the center of gravity of the equipment, thereby effectively ensuring the posture of the equipment underwater.

[0055] The monitoring system is installed on the middle platform of the rack system. When the entire base station is installed, various monitoring instruments and equipment will carry out in-situ monitoring of the mining plume after receiving control instructions; the seawater battery system and the overall control system are installed on the lower platform of the rack system to provide energy for the base station, control the instruments and equipment carried by the platform and collect data; a pulley assembly for installing a counterweight is provided on the lower platform of the rack system to facilitate the installation of accessories of the base station.

[0056] The jettisoning system includes a releaser assembly and a counterweight assembly. Before the base station is deployed, the jettisoning system adds weight to the equipment to improve the deployment efficiency. It is necessary to artificially add a counterweight block with high density and small volume at the bottom of the base station equipment to achieve the purpose of rapid deployment. After the base station mission is completed, the releaser assembly starts the release program after receiving the signal from the recovery equipment and releases the counterweight block. The weight of the equipment in the water will be less than the buoyancy of the buoyancy system, and the equipment will float up by itself through the buoyancy. The whole process is called cable-free recovery.

[0057] The releaser assembly includes an acoustic releaser and a mechanical releaser. The acoustic releaser uses the principle of acoustic communication to send instructions. After receiving the release signal, the acoustic releaser will perform a load-dumping action to throw away the counterweight. After the mechanical releaser receives the load-dumping signal using a transmission cable, it executes the load-dumping instruction, starts the load-dumping action, and throws away the counterweight.

[0058] Both types of releasers act independently and are independent of each other without interfering with each other, ensuring that when one system fails, the load can be successfully jettisoned through the other releaser.

[0059] The load-dumping system uses two sets of releasers with different principles based on the principle of redundancy. If the load-dumping fails, the entire base station equipment cannot be recovered, resulting in huge losses.

[0060] Furthermore, the buoyancy provided by the base station comes from the glass float on the one hand, and from the low-density, high-strength lightweight composite material on the other hand; the glass float not only provides buoyancy for the base station, but also can install the overall control system of the base station in each float. The float is a split structure, specifically an upper hemisphere and a lower hemisphere; after the overall control system is installed in the float, the upper hemisphere and the lower hemisphere are installed into a complete sealed float to prevent water leakage from damaging electronic components; signal transmission and power transmission between each float are completed through cables, and watertight connectors installed on the surface of the float at both ends of the cable can play a sealing role to prevent the float from leaking. After the overall control system is installed, each float is installed as a whole on the upper platform and the top platform of the rack, and multiple floats are evenly distributed on the two platforms to provide partial buoyancy for the base station.

[0061] In addition, another part of the buoyancy of the base station comes from a low-density, high-strength lightweight composite material. This material is distributed around the upper platform and the top platform, providing partial buoyancy for the base station. Because this buoyancy material itself has a high anti-collision capability, it provides protection for the equipment's anti-collision capabilities.

[0062] For the acoustic communication system, it acts as a signal transmission medium for uplink and downlink data and command transmission, and cooperates with underwater WI FI to form a reliable local area network with multi-dimensional, high-performance, high-speed two-way transmission between the base station and the portable node, the base station and the surface buoy system, and the surface buoy system and the shore-based control console.

[0063] The acoustic communication system is connected to the rack system through a swivel and an umbilical cable to ensure that the acoustic communication system and the umbilical cable are relatively still and reduce the torsional force on the umbilical cable; since the acoustic communication machine needs to be at a certain height from the ground when working, the base station hoisting and the acoustic communication machine system need to be free from the constraints of the base station during normal operation. The acoustic communication system throws away the counterweight assembly through the acoustic releaser and uses the buoyancy of the glass float to float freely to a certain height; the acoustic communication system is connected to the base station through a pull rope assembly, which can not only limit the floating height of the acoustic communication system, but also ensure that the acoustic communication system cannot float freely indefinitely and is relatively fixed to the position of the base station.

[0064] On the other hand, the base station's acoustic communicator, hoisting and acoustic communicator system, and surface buoy or movable acoustic communicator cooperate with each other and serve as signal transmission relay points, enabling the shore-based laboratory to obtain monitoring data and image information in real time.

[0065] The monitoring system includes digital holographic imaging equipment, binocular cameras, optical detectors for plume redeposition layer thickness and parameter monitoring instruments; the parameter monitoring instruments include pH monitoring instruments, redox potential monitoring instruments, conductivity monitoring instruments, CTD monitoring instruments, dissolved oxygen monitoring instruments, optical turbidity monitoring instruments and optical chlorophyll monitoring instruments, which can complete in-situ monitoring operations of the impact of mining plume redeposition on the seabed biochemical environment and benthic organisms.

[0066] Since the base station monitors the environmental impact of seabed mining over a long period of time, it requires a long-term base. The battery supply period of the base station is long and the consumption is large, so it is equipped with a seawater battery system to supply energy to the base station.

[0067] The seawater battery system includes energy storage batteries and backup batteries. When the voltage of the energy storage batteries is lower than the base station's operating requirements, the base station will automatically switch to the backup battery power supply mode, and the base station will enter the safe working mode. When the battery power reaches the base station's specified requirements, it will automatically switch to the energy storage battery working mode.

[0068] The energy storage battery is a rechargeable lithium battery, and the backup battery is a self-generating seawater battery. The self-generating seawater batteries are independently boosted and connected in parallel to collect electrical energy to the energy storage battery; the seawater battery system is installed on the lower platform of the rack system.

[0069] The 8 seawater batteries are independently boosted through 8 channels to improve the reliability of power supply. The single-chip microcomputer monitors and identifies them, and uploads the switching information of the energy storage battery and the backup battery to the main control system through the RS232 level conversion chip. When the energy storage battery voltage is lower than 19V, it switches to the backup battery for power supply, and the system enters the safe working mode. When the energy storage battery voltage is higher than 24V, it switches to the energy storage battery for power supply, and the system resumes the normal working mode.

[0070] Because each group of seawater battery systems is independently boosted and connected in parallel, even if one or several groups of seawater battery units fail, it will not affect the seawater battery's power supply to the base station to ensure the normal operation of the base station, thereby improving the reliability of the base station's operation.

[0071] The working principle of the seawater battery is as follows: using a seawater dissolved oxygen battery, in which seawater is used as the electrolyte, and the dissolved oxygen in the seawater is used as the cathode reaction active substance. A cathode reduction reaction of oxygen occurs on the positive carbon fiber brush electrode, and an anode dissolution reaction of magnesium occurs with a highly active magnesium alloy as the negative electrode. Under the action of the ocean current, a continuous supply of oxygen and elimination of by-products on the electrode surface are achieved, forming a primary battery. The seawater battery system of this base station can provide energy for the base station for a long time, and can also provide power for the master control system of the mining plume impact monitoring and acoustic communication system on the portable nodes outside the base station.

[0072] As for the communication method, the base station adopts long-distance hydroacoustic communication and underwater multi-node hydroacoustic networking, so that multiple portable nodes outside the station and its base station, surface buoys, satellites and shore-based control consoles can form a deep-sea remote-controlled local area network system through acoustic communicators and WI FI to achieve network connection of multiple nodes in the base station area.

[0073] Furthermore, this local area network has the ability of long-distance, high-speed, two-way, and real-time underwater acoustic communication in the form of multi-node relay communication, and cooperates with the self-organization of the Wi-Fi network to realize the connection of the regional multi-node network; within the effective network coverage area and the maximum node scale, the base station or portable node console can autonomously access and exit the network, and support underwater Wi-Fi network functions.

[0074] The application of the local area network of the base station greatly reduces the number of cables on the base station and its auxiliary equipment, and also greatly reduces the weight of the base station equipment. From an economic point of view, because the use of cables is reduced, a large amount of cable purchase costs are saved; because the total weight of the equipment is reduced, the cost of purchasing buoyancy materials is saved; from the perspective of base station reliability, because the base station uses a small number of cables, the probability of cable damage due to collision is greatly reduced, and the risk of data transmission failure due to cable damage is also reduced.

[0075] It should be noted that the base station can be deployed at a fixed point with a cable, or it can be deployed free-fall without a cable using its own counterweight. After the base station completes its mission, it can be recovered by its own floating system without power.

[0076] This application adopts multi-dimensional local area network technology, which makes it possible for the equipment to realize real-time data transmission and provides the possibility for network technology to have broader development and application in deep water; the base station adopts a seawater battery system, which provides ideas for the use of new energy power for future deep-sea resource detection equipment and provides a platform for the broader application of seawater battery systems in the deep sea.

[0077] To sum up, an environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term work on the seabed in an embodiment of the present invention is based on a wireless local area network to transmit data signals and issue commands, which can not only enable real-time transmission of data signals, but also reduce the weight of the detection equipment because the base station has no signal cable, and also reduce the use of floating materials; at the same time, "rechargeable lithium battery + self-generating seawater battery" is used to provide energy for the control system and drive system in the equipment to ensure sufficient power supply, and can provide a reliable working height for the matching acoustic communicator, acquire monitoring data in real time, increase the real-time and reliability of the signal transmission work of the acoustic communicator, and can be networked with other underwater monitoring tools and surface buoys to form a three-dimensional monitoring network, equipped with a variety of sensors for long-term and continuous monitoring of the seabed.

[0078] The above specific implementation manner cannot be used as a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, any substitution, improvement or change made to the implementation manner of the present invention falls within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0079] The matters not described in detail in the present invention are all known technologies to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A multi-parameter environmental monitoring base station that can be used for long-term operation on the seabed, characterized in that: The monitoring base station is deployed to the seabed by a mother ship using a cable, and is powered by a dissolved oxygen seawater battery. It carries out long-term in-situ monitoring of the seabed environment through general and special instruments and equipment, receives shore-based instructions to adjust the monitoring strategy, and transmits the monitoring data back to the shore-based laboratory in real time; The monitoring base station includes a rack system, a monitoring system, a control system, a communication system, an energy supply system and a deployment and recovery system; the monitoring system is used to use general monitoring instruments and extended special instruments to complete the in-situ monitoring of the impact on the seabed biochemical environment and benthic organisms; the communication system is used as a signal transmission medium to transmit parallel and uplink and downlink data and issue instructions, to achieve networking between the base station and the nodes around the base station, and interaction and communication between the base station and the surface buoy or ship; the energy supply system is used to use the power supply mode of dissolved oxygen seawater battery + lithium battery to provide energy for the base station for a long time; The deployment and recovery system includes a base station deployment system and a base station recovery system, and has two modes: fixed-point deployment with cable and self-deployment without cable. The deployment and recovery system uses the buoyancy formed by the base station after acoustic communication dumping to autonomously rise to the water surface to improve the deployment and recovery efficiency and flexibility; The rack system includes four layers, top, middle and bottom, and a sonotrode float. The rack system releases the sonotrode float through a releaser. Under the action of its own buoyancy, the sonotrode float is suspended above the rack system.

2. According to claim 1, an environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term operation on the seabed is characterized by: The rack system is welded with high-strength titanium alloy pipes and plates that are resistant to seawater corrosion. The overall shape is approximately a quadrilateral, and is divided into a top platform, an upper platform, a middle platform and a lower platform; the top platform is equipped with an underwater acoustic communication device, a beacon, a fuse release mechanism and a float, the upper platform is the main floating body installation layer, the middle platform is the monitoring instrument installation layer, and the lower platform is equipped with a power supply system, a control system and a throwing system, forming the body platform of the base station.

3. The environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term operation on the seabed according to claim 2 is characterized by: A buoyancy system is installed on the upper platform of the rack system to provide upward buoyancy for the rack system. Solid polymer floating materials are installed around the upper platform to provide part of the buoyancy for the rack system. Glass floats installed inside the upper platform provide another part of the buoyancy for the rack system. The solid polymer floats and glass floats constitute the main buoyancy system of the base station, while ensuring that the center of buoyancy of the equipment is always at the top and maintains a certain distance from the center of gravity of the equipment, thereby effectively ensuring the posture of the equipment underwater.

4. The environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term operation on the seabed according to claim 1 is characterized by: The monitoring system includes general instruments such as CTD monitoring instruments, ADCP sensors, pH monitoring instruments, redox potential monitoring instruments, conductivity monitoring instruments, dissolved oxygen monitoring instruments, optical turbidity monitoring instruments and optical chlorophyll monitoring instruments, which constitute a standard monitoring system for the base station and can complete basic seabed environmental monitoring. At the same time, an expansion space interface is reserved, which can be equipped with digital holographic imaging equipment, binocular cameras, optical detectors for plume redeposition layer thickness and other special monitoring instruments as needed to complete special environmental monitoring requirements such as seabed mining plume monitoring.

5. The environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term operation on the seabed according to claim 2 is characterized by: The energy supply system includes an energy storage battery and a seawater battery system. The energy storage battery is a rechargeable lithium battery that supplies power to the base station. The self-generating seawater battery is independently boosted by the power management system and then connected in parallel to charge the energy storage battery, thereby ensuring the long-term power supply demand of the base station. When the voltage of the energy storage battery is lower than the usage requirements of the base station, the base station will automatically switch to the backup battery power supply mode, and the base station will enter the safe working mode again. When the energy storage battery power reaches the requirements specified by the base station, it will automatically switch to the normal working mode.

6. The environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term operation on the seabed according to claim 1 is characterized by: The base station adopts long-distance hydroacoustic communication and underwater multi-node hydroacoustic networking, so that multiple portable nodes outside the station and its base station, surface buoys, satellites and shore-based control consoles can form a deep-sea remote controlled local area network system through acoustic communication devices and WIFI to achieve network connection and data transmission of multiple nodes in the base station area and the issuance of control instructions; An acoustic communication system is installed in the middle of the top platform of the rack system. After the base station is installed, the fuse mechanism is triggered by the bottom switch, so that the acoustic communication system floats down to a certain height from the seabed due to the buoyancy, ensuring the long-distance operation and networking requirements of the acoustic communication machine; the top platform of the rack system can also be connected to the surface buoy system through the mooring system; The acoustic communication machine is connected to the base station through an anti-torsion armored cable assembly, which can not only limit the floating height of the acoustic communication system, but also ensure that the acoustic communication system cannot float freely indefinitely and is relatively fixed in position with the base station; The acoustic communication machine is connected to the rack system through a hollow swivel and an umbilical cable, so as to ensure that the acoustic communication system and the umbilical cable are relatively stationary and reduce the torsional force on the umbilical cable.

7. The environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term operation on the seabed according to claim 1 is characterized by: The base station can be deployed at a fixed point with a cable, or it can be deployed free-fall without a cable using its own counterweight. After the base station completes its mission, it can be recovered in a non-powered self-floating manner through its own buoyancy system. Iridium / Beidou beacons and optical beacons are installed on the top of the rack to perform satellite positioning and assist in searching for targets at sea.

8. The environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term operation on the seabed according to claim 2 is characterized by: A dumping system is provided on the rack system, and the dumping system includes a releaser assembly and a counterweight assembly. The dumping system adds weight to the equipment before the base station is deployed to improve the deployment efficiency. It is necessary to artificially add a counterweight block with high density and small volume at the bottom of the base station equipment to achieve the purpose of rapid deployment. After the base station task is completed, the releaser assembly starts the release program after receiving the signal of the recovery equipment, and releases the counterweight block. The weight of the equipment in the water will be less than the buoyancy of the buoyancy system, and the equipment will float up to the water surface by itself through the buoyancy. The releaser assembly includes an acoustic releaser and a mechanical releaser. The acoustic releaser uses the principle of acoustic communication to send instructions. After receiving the release signal, the acoustic releaser will perform a load-dumping action to throw away the counterweight. After the mechanical releaser receives the load-dumping signal using a transmission cable, it executes the load-dumping instruction, starts the load-dumping action, and throws away the counterweight.

9. The environmental multi-parameter monitoring base station that can be used for long-term operation on the seabed according to claim 3 is characterized by: The buoyancy system includes a glass float and a polymer lightweight composite float material. The glass float is a split structure, divided into an upper hemisphere and a lower hemisphere. After the overall control system is installed in the glass float, the upper hemisphere and the lower hemisphere are installed into a complete sealed float to prevent water leakage from damaging electronic components. The signal transmission and power transmission between each glass float are completed through cables. The watertight connectors installed on the surface of the float at both ends of the cable can play a sealing role to prevent the glass float from leaking. The glass floats are evenly distributed on the two platforms to provide partial buoyancy for the base station. The polymer lightweight composite floating material is evenly distributed around the upper platform and the top platform, which can not only provide partial buoyancy for the base station, but also provide protection for the equipment's anti-collision.

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