Deep-sea mining system with cooperation of green power generation and vibration suppression and load reduction

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of deep-sea mining systems, in particular to a green power generation and vibration suppression and load reduction coordinated deep-sea mining system, which integrates wave energy power generation and riser dynamics control to convert harmful movement of a riser into stable electric energy while effectively suppressing the lifting of the axial dynamic load of the riser under all working conditions, so as to achieve the purpose of energy conservation and environmental protection. And a solution of cooperation of structural vibration suppression and energy emergency guarantee is formed, so that the safety and sustainability of the system are improved. Comprising a water surface supporting ship, a lifting stand pipe, an energy supplementing power generation device, a relay cabin, a conveying pipe and a mining vehicle which are sequentially arranged from top to bottom.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of deep-sea mining technology, specifically to a deep-sea mining system based on data-driven green power generation and vibration suppression and load reduction synergy. Background Technology

[0002] In deep-sea mining operations, pipeline lifting (including hydraulic and pneumatic lifting) mining solutions are widely recognized as the most commercially promising technology due to their continuous transport and high efficiency. It mainly consists of subsystems such as mining vehicles, lifting risers, relay stations, transport pipes, and surface support vessels, forming a highly integrated, technology-intensive system. The lifting system is the "lifeline" of the entire project, needing to withstand its own enormous weight and the impact of ocean currents while achieving stable and efficient mining and transport operations. Technical challenges and difficulties include handling the high load on the lifting riser and ensuring stable energy supply.

[0003] Regarding the high load on risers, existing technologies and their limitations are as follows: 1) Installing additional vibration damping devices, such as tuned mass dampers, can provide vibration reduction at specific frequencies, but it is essentially a "local treatment" approach. For low-frequency, high-mass vibration systems like deep-sea mining risers, the vibration reduction effect is limited, and it increases system complexity and deep-sea maintenance requirements, posing a challenge to reliability; 2) Using ultra-high performance steel pipes to reduce weight and load can improve pipeline load-bearing capacity, but it comes with an exponential increase in material costs. Any weight reduction scheme that sacrifices relay compartment capacity to reduce dynamic response will directly reduce mining efficiency, contradicting the goal of commercial operation; 3) Installing a heave compensation system can significantly reduce the axial load on the riser, but it is shut down during critical transitional conditions such as installation and recovery. The riser is in a "hard suspension" state, and the ship's heave motion is directly transmitted to the riser without buffering, which will induce large axial vibrations and generate huge alternating loads at the top of the riser, easily exceeding the crane's safe load and posing a significant operational risk.

[0004] Regarding the challenges of energy supply stability, existing technologies and their limitations are as follows: Current solutions primarily rely on surface support vessels to transmit power via an umbilical cable several kilometers long. However, this lengthy umbilical cable not only leads to high power transmission losses, increased energy consumption and costs, but also limits its reliability and flexibility. Furthermore, deep-sea mining operations require a continuous and stable power supply; any interruption can affect operations and even lead to safety risks. This highly centralized and singular power supply method has become a key bottleneck restricting the system from achieving long-term, large-scale commercial operations. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One of the objectives of this invention is to propose a deep-sea mining system that combines green power generation with vibration suppression and load reduction. By integrating wave energy generation and riser dynamic control, the system effectively suppresses the axial dynamic load on the riser under all operating conditions while converting the harmful motion of the riser into stable electrical energy, thus forming a solution that combines structural vibration suppression and emergency energy security, thereby improving the system's safety and sustainability.

[0006] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: A deep-sea mining system that combines green power generation and vibration damping includes, from top to bottom, a surface support vessel, a lifting riser, a power generation device, a relay cabin, a delivery pipe, and a mining vehicle. The surface support vessel is connected to the top of the lifting riser; The riser provides the core channel for transporting ore particles from the seabed to the surface and provides the physical carrier for power and signal transmission for underwater equipment. The supplementary power generation device is located below the riser system and close to the relay cabin. It converts the captured mechanical energy into electrical energy to directly power the relay cabin or other underwater equipment below. The relay cabin serves as a buffer between the bottom of the riser and the delivery pipe, and also as a transfer station for minerals and slurries. The conveying pipe is connected between the relay compartment and the mining vehicle and is used to convey slurry; The mining vehicle is a seabed operation device used to collect minerals from the seabed and is connected to a relay cabin via a delivery pipe.

[0007] Furthermore, the power generation device is integrated with the lifting riser.

[0008] Furthermore, the surface support vessel includes a mineral preliminary processing unit and a temporary storage unit, a power supply unit, a system monitoring unit, and an operation command center.

[0009] Furthermore, the relay cabin includes an energy distribution device for receiving and distributing power transmitted from the surface support vessel via riser, while storing and utilizing energy generated from the supplementary power generation device.

[0010] Furthermore, the delivery pipe is a flexible pipe.

[0011] Furthermore, the surface support vessel includes a dynamic positioning system to maintain stable position in complex sea conditions.

[0012] Furthermore, the energy replenishment and power generation device includes a pendulum power generation device, which is vertically arranged and fixed on the outer wall of the lifting riser via a hinge shaft. When the lifting riser moves vertically, the pendulum plate undergoes angular displacement relative to the riser due to its own inertia, and swings up and down. Then, through the energy conversion system connected to it, the mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy. At the same time, the swing plate generates a significant damping force when it swings, which reacts on the riser and effectively increases the vertical motion damping of the riser, thereby effectively suppressing the sway amplitude and acceleration of the riser and reducing its axial alternating load.

[0013] Furthermore, the supplementary power generation device includes a point absorption power generation device; The point absorption power generation unit is arranged coaxially with the lifting pipe, and the annular energy capture device is installed on the outside of the lifting riser. Under the action of waves, the water surface supports the ship to sway, which in turn drives the lifting riser to sway. At this time, the annular wave energy device and the riser generate relative vertical motion, which is then converted into electrical energy.

[0014] Furthermore, the point absorption power generation device includes an end limiter, which includes a spring and a limiting member to limit the maximum relative displacement between the annular energy harvesting device and the lifting riser, thereby preventing structural collision.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0016] This invention integrates the supplementary power generation device with the riser, effectively suppressing riser heave and reducing axial alternating loads. Simultaneously, it innovatively converts the riser's harmful kinetic energy into usable electrical energy, providing a nearby, stable, complementary, and emergency green power source for underwater relay cabins or other monitoring equipment. This enhances the system's emergency response capabilities in the event of main power failures or other unforeseen circumstances. This solution avoids complex modifications to the original deep-sea mining system structure, achieving synergistic optimization of structural safety and emergency energy security, improving system sustainability, and possessing significant engineering application value.

[0017] The core structural innovation lies in integrating wave energy generation units into the riser system, forming a highly efficient axial dynamic load control system. This system addresses the riser's heave motion by utilizing pendulum or point-absorbing wave energy, structurally integrating it with the riser to increase axial damping. Simultaneously, it absorbs and converts the riser's heave kinetic energy, significantly reducing its axial alternating load and motion amplitude, and greatly improving the structural safety and reliability of the deep-sea mining system under complex sea conditions.

[0018] Furthermore, it innovatively transforms the harmful motion of the riser into an electrical resource. By equipping it with an energy capture and power generation device, the heave kinetic energy of the riser is continuously and efficiently converted into stable electrical energy, providing emergency backup power for underwater relay cabins or other monitoring equipment. This not only eliminates the excessive reliance on a single power supply from long-distance umbilical cables, but also constructs a power supply system integrated with the main structure, greatly enhancing the stability of power supply to underwater equipment and the continuity and safety of the entire system's operation. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention; Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a design scheme for vibration suppression and load reduction of risers and power generation in deep-sea mining systems (two exemplary and non-limiting implementation schemes).

[0021] In the picture: 1. Surface support vessel; 2. Lifting riser; 3. Power generation device; 4. Relay compartment; 5. Conveyor pipe; 6. Mining vehicle. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] Example 1

[0024] When large-scale deep-sea mining systems operate in waters at depths of thousands of meters, their ultra-long riser 2 experiences significant heaving motion under wave action, severely impacting the stability of mining operations. Simultaneously, the relay cabin 4 and other monitoring equipment located thousands of meters underwater face challenges in power transmission, including lengthy umbilical cables, high failure risks, and significant maintenance difficulties. To address these issues, this embodiment integrates a supplementary power generation device 3 into the riser 2 system, converting the riser's vertical kinetic energy into electrical energy. This not only effectively suppresses the heaving response and dynamic load of the riser 2 but also provides a nearby, efficient supplementary power source for the underwater relay cabin 4 or monitoring equipment, significantly enhancing the reliability, redundancy, and security of the energy supply.

[0025] Therefore, such as Figure 1-2 As shown, this embodiment innovatively proposes a deep-sea mining system that combines green power generation with vibration suppression and load reduction. It integrates wave energy devices with the riser 2, which not only effectively suppresses the axial motion response and dynamic load of the riser 2, ensuring structural safety and expanding the working window, but also efficiently converts the vertical kinetic energy of the riser into electrical energy, providing a nearby and stable emergency power supply for the underwater relay cabin 4 or other equipment. This prevents the interruption of underwater equipment operations due to sudden failures in the umbilical cable power supply, improves the reliability and stability of the system's power supply, and achieves synergistic optimization of structural safety and energy supply.

[0026] Specifically, this embodiment includes a surface support vessel 1, a lifting riser 2, a power generation device 3, a relay cabin 4, a delivery pipe 5, and a mining vehicle 6, arranged sequentially from the sea surface to the seabed.

[0027] Among them, the surface support vessel 1 serves as the surface support and command center of the deep-sea mining system. It not only supports and connects to the top of the lifting riser 2, but also houses preliminary mineral processing equipment, temporary storage equipment, power supply equipment, system monitoring equipment, and an operation command center, undertaking corresponding functions. In addition, a dynamic positioning system is installed to maintain the stability of the vessel's position in complex sea conditions, providing a relatively stable operating platform for the underwater production system.

[0028] The riser 2 is a pipeline system made of high-strength steel, providing the core channel for transporting ore particles from the seabed to the surface, and providing the physical carrier (built-in cable / optical cable) for power and signal transmission for underwater equipment such as the relay cabin 4 and mining vehicle 6.

[0029] Under wave loads, the riser 2 (especially in "hard suspension" conditions such as installation and retrieval) experiences a sharp increase in axial dynamic load and excessive acceleration due to the direct bearing of the ship's heave motion, leading to key technical problems such as system structural safety risks and limited operational windows. Existing technical solutions, whether using expensive high-performance materials to improve structural strength or reducing the system weight by decreasing the volume of the relay cabin 4, have limitations: the former leads to excessively high project costs, while the latter contradicts the core requirement of high capacity for commercial operation. Therefore, the innovative system and method proposed in this patent can effectively suppress the riser's dynamic response, ensure operational safety, and expand the feasible operational window, while maintaining lower construction costs and without affecting the system's core performance.

[0030] This invention addresses the issues of a single power supply method and insufficient safety in deep-sea mining systems. Existing deep-sea mining systems primarily rely on a surface support vessel (1) for power transmission via a long umbilical cable (several kilometers long). However, the lengthy umbilical cable results in significant energy loss over long distances, increasing system operating energy consumption and costs. Furthermore, as the sole device for transmitting power from the surface to underwater, the umbilical cable itself is a potential single point of failure. An interruption in power supply due to a fault would cause unplanned downtime of the deep-sea mining system, severely threatening operational safety and continuity. Therefore, this patent innovatively proposes integrating a supplementary power generation device (3) with the riser structure, efficiently converting the vertical kinetic energy of the riser into stable electrical energy, ensuring stable power supply, and improving the safety of system operations.

[0031] The supplementary power generation device 3 is integrated with the riser 2 and located close to the relay compartment 4. It is used to efficiently convert the captured mechanical energy into electrical energy, directly powering the relay compartment 4 or other underwater equipment below, realizing on-site energy collection and utilization, and further ensuring the power supply stability of the system.

[0032] The relay compartment 4 serves as a crucial buffer and transfer station between the bottom of the riser 2 and the delivery pipe 5. In this embodiment, in addition to mineral transfer—receiving slurry from the mining vehicle 6 via the delivery pipe 5 and smoothly pumping it into the riser 2—it is also equipped with an energy distribution device. This device receives and distributes electricity transmitted from the surface support vessel 1 through the riser, while simultaneously storing and utilizing electrical energy generated by the overhead power generation device 3, thus achieving a more stable and efficient power supply to the underwater equipment.

[0033] The conveying pipe 5 is a flexible pipe connecting the relay compartment 4 and the mining car 6. Its core function is to convey slurry, and it has good flexibility, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance.

[0034] Mining vehicles are underwater operating equipment that travel on the seabed and collect minerals such as polymetallic nodules. They are connected to relay cabins 4 via delivery pipes 5 and usually have their own drive system and are equipped with a variety of sensors. They can operate on the seabed according to preset paths or remote commands.

[0035] Example 2

[0036] Based on Example 1, the supplementary power generation device 3 in this embodiment is preferably a pendulum power generation device, which is arranged vertically and fixed on the outer wall of the lifting riser 2 through a hinge shaft. When the lifting riser 2 moves vertically, the pendulum plate undergoes angular displacement relative to the riser due to its own inertia, and swings up and down. Then, through the energy conversion system connected to it, the mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy.

[0037] At the same time, the swing plate generates a significant damping force when it swings, which reacts on the riser and effectively increases the vertical motion damping of the riser 2, thereby effectively suppressing the sway amplitude and acceleration of the riser and reducing its axial alternating load.

[0038] Example 3

[0039] Based on Example 1, the supplementary power generation device 3 in this embodiment is preferably a point absorption power generation device, or a combination of a pendulum power generation device and a point absorption power generation device. Their common essence is to capture the axial kinetic energy of the riser, and at the same time generate electricity, significantly reduce the axial movement and load of the riser, thereby achieving synergistic optimization of system structural safety and multi-source power supply.

[0040] The point absorption power generation device is arranged coaxially with the lifting pipe, and the annular energy capture device is installed on the outside of the lifting riser 2. Under the action of waves, the surface support vessel 1 oscillates, which in turn drives the lifting riser 2 to oscillate. At this time, the annular wave energy device and the riser generate relative vertical motion, which is then converted into electrical energy.

[0041] The point absorption power generation device includes an end limiter, which includes a spring and a limiting component to limit the maximum relative displacement between the annular energy harvesting device and the lifting riser 2, and to prevent structural collision.

[0042] The above embodiments have wide applicability and can be applied to various riser-type deep-sea mining systems such as pump-lift and closed-loop systems. Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the architecture is shown only for a specific type of system (suspended closed-loop deep-sea mining system), but this does not constitute any limitation on the scope of application of the present invention.

[0043] The core innovation lies in integrating the supplementary power generation device 3 with the deep-sea mining riser 2. The supplementary power generation device 3 is arranged on the riser 2, which captures, converts and utilizes the vertical kinetic energy generated by the riser under the action of waves that is detrimental to structural safety, thereby achieving the synergistic optimization of the system's "vibration suppression and load reduction" and "multi-energy supply".

[0044] Distributed green power generation devices are installed on the deep-sea mining riser 2 to convert the vertical kinetic energy of the riser 2 into electrical energy, providing emergency backup power for underwater equipment. Simultaneously, the energy capture and conversion process generates damping forces to reduce the vertical motion and dynamic load amplitude of the riser 2. As mentioned above, green power generation devices include wave energy pendulum generators and point absorption generators.

[0045] Unlike existing technologies, the design of existing deep-sea mining system riser mainly focuses on structural strength and sealing performance, and does not have the functions of heave suppression and power generation by its own kinetic energy.

[0046] Regarding improving structural safety, while some deep-sea mining systems have added heave compensation devices to reduce the vertical movement and dynamic load of the riser 2, these devices are shut down during the installation / recovery phase, which is the control condition designed for the system, where the amplitude of vertical movement and dynamic load on the riser is relatively large. Furthermore, while using ultra-high-performance steel pipes can enhance the structural load-bearing capacity of the pipeline by increasing the material's yield strength, it increases material costs. The weight reduction and load-reduction scheme by reducing the capacity of the relay cabin 4 contradicts the goals of commercial operation. Regarding ensuring a stable power supply, very few deep-sea mining system designs include clean energy sources in addition to the main power input, but these are not coupled with the system's motion response and only serve as external power supply facilities.

[0047] This invention effectively integrates the lifting riser 2 and the power generation device, effectively suppressing the axial dynamic load of the lifting riser 2 while converting the harmful motion of the riser into stable electrical energy, forming a synergistic design scheme of structural vibration suppression and green power generation, thereby improving the safety and stability of system operation.

[0048] Compared with existing technologies, the main advantages are as follows: 1. It is easy to modify and applicable to multiple working conditions. It does not require large-scale modification of the existing mining vessel and the main body of the riser, and does not affect the system's production capacity and core performance. In multiple working conditions (including the installation condition of the riser "hard suspension"), it can use the energy conversion mechanism to generate damping force to suppress motion and generate electricity at the same time, providing more comprehensive and reliable motion control.

[0049] 2. Significant efficiency: By innovatively adding a vertical vibration damping-power generation device, the heave motion response of the relay cabin 4 and the lifting riser 2 can be significantly reduced, as well as the maximum dynamic load on the top of the riser. 3. Enhance the reliability and resilience of underwater energy supply systems by integrating green power generation devices near critical underwater electrical equipment, establishing emergency backup power supplies, and improving the system's fault tolerance and operational continuity.

[0050] Through the above design, a deep-sea mining system and method integrating power generation and vibration damping / load reduction were constructed. The wave energy generation unit was deeply integrated with the riser structure, and a feasible integrated implementation plan was proposed. This provides a systematic technical path to solve the dual challenges of dynamic load control of risers and emergency power supply for underwater equipment in deep-sea mining. This system is particularly suitable for large-scale, long-cycle deep-sea resource development scenarios, and has significant engineering application value in improving structural safety and enhancing power supply redundancy.

[0051] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A deep-sea mining system with green power generation and vibration suppression and load reduction synergy, characterized in that, The water surface support ship (1), the lifting riser (2), the energy supplementing power generation device (3), the relay cabin (4), the conveying pipe (5) and the mining car (6) are sequentially arranged from top to bottom. The water surface support ship (1) is connected to the top of the lifting riser (2). The lifting riser (2) provides a core channel for conveying ore particles from the seabed to the water surface and provides a physical carrier for power and signal transmission of underwater equipment. The energy supplementing power generation device (3) is located below the lifting riser (2) and close to the relay cabin (4), converts the captured mechanical energy into electrical energy, and directly supplies power to the relay cabin (4) below or other underwater equipment. The energy supplementing power generation device (3) includes a pendulum power generation device, which is vertically arranged and fixed on the outer wall of the lifting riser (2) through a hinge shaft. When the lifting riser (2) moves vertically, the pendulum plate will have an angular displacement relative to the riser due to its inertia, and will swing up and down, and then through the energy conversion system connected thereto, the mechanical energy will be converted into electrical energy. At the same time, the pendulum plate swings to produce significant damping force, which acts on the riser, equivalent to increasing the vertical motion damping of the lifting riser (2), thereby effectively suppressing the heave amplitude and acceleration of the riser, and reducing the axial alternating load thereof. The relay cabin (4) is used for buffering between the bottom of the lifting riser (2) and the conveying pipe (5), and serves as a mineral and ore slurry transfer station. The conveying pipe (5) is connected between the relay cabin (4) and the mining car (6), and is used for conveying ore slurry. The mining car is a seabed operation device, which is used for collecting minerals on the seabed and connecting with the relay cabin (4) through the conveying pipe (5).

2. The green power generation and vibration suppression and load reduction collaborative deep sea mining system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy supplementing power generation device (3) is integrated with the lifting riser (2).

3. The green power generation and vibration suppression and load reduction collaborative deep sea mining system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The water surface support ship (1) includes a mineral preliminary treatment device and a temporary storage device, a power supply device, a system monitoring device and an operation command room.

4. The green power generation and vibration suppression and load reduction cooperative deep sea mining system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The relay cabin (4) includes an electrical energy distribution device for receiving and distributing electrical power transmitted from the water surface support ship (1) through the riser, and storing and utilizing electrical energy generated from the energy supplementing power generation device (3).

5. The green power generation and vibration suppression and load reduction collaborative deep sea mining system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The conveying pipe (5) is a flexible pipe.

6. The green power generation and vibration suppression and load reduction cooperative deep sea mining system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The water surface support ship (1) includes a dynamic positioning system for keeping the ship position stable under complex sea conditions.

7. The green power generation and vibration suppression and load reduction cooperative deep sea mining system according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that, The energy supplementing power generation device (3) includes a point absorption type power generation device. The point absorption type power generation device is coaxially arranged with the lifting pipe, and the ring-shaped energy capturing device is installed outside the lifting riser (2). Under the action of waves, the water surface support ship (1) heaves, and the lifting riser (2) also heaves, at this time, the relative vertical motion between the ring-shaped wave energy device and the riser is generated, and then the electrical energy is converted.

8. The green power generation and vibration suppression and load reduction cooperative deep sea mining system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The point absorption type power generation device includes an end limiter, which includes a spring and a limiting member, limiting the maximum relative displacement between the ring-shaped energy capturing device and the lifting riser (2), and preventing structural collision.

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