Relay bin device capable of intelligently detecting and adjusting mineral height and deep-sea mining system

Abstract

The invention discloses a relay bin device capable of intelligently detecting and adjusting the mineral height and a deep-sea mining system.The relay bin device comprises a relay bin, a height adjusting unit, a detecting unit and a self-cleaning unit, the height adjusting unit comprises a shell assembly, an air bag assembly and a piston assembly, the shell assembly is arranged in the relay bin, and the air bag assembly is arranged in the relay bin; the air bag assembly is arranged in the shell assembly, a high-pressure air chamber is formed in the air bag assembly, the movable end of the piston assembly extends into the high-pressure air chamber and is in sealed sliding connection with the high-pressure air chamber, and the movable end of the piston assembly can move up and down in the axial direction of the relay bin by inflating and deflating the high-pressure air chamber so as to adjust the height of mineral particles; the detection unit comprises a high-pressure waterproof radar and a high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor, and the high-pressure waterproof radar and the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor are arranged on the two sides of a discharging port of the relay bin respectively; the cleaning end of the self-cleaning unit faces the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor and is used for cleaning the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor regularly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of deep-sea mining system technology, specifically to a relay warehouse device and a deep-sea mining system with intelligent detection and adjustment of mineral height. Background Technology

[0002] Deep-sea mining systems mainly consist of three modules: mining machines, relay bins, and hoisting systems. The relay bin, serving as a hub for the temporary storage and transfer of mineral particles, directly impacts the continuity and safety of mining operations through the stable control of particle accumulation height within it. Deep-sea mining environments are extremely harsh, with water depths of 100–3000 meters corresponding to pressures of 10–30 MPa. Seawater is highly corrosive, mineral crushing generates large amounts of dust, and underwater visibility is extremely low. These conditions place higher demands on the particle height adjustment and detection devices within the relay bin. However, existing relay bins often use mechanical screws or hydraulic push rods for height adjustment. These mechanisms are prone to sealing failures (such as hydraulic oil leaks) and mechanical jamming (dust intrusion into gaps) under the high pressure of the deep sea. Furthermore, the wear of metal components is accelerated by seawater corrosion, resulting in a system MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) of less than 200 hours. The maintenance cost of deep-sea operations is extremely high, which severely restricts mining efficiency. At the same time, the single sensors (radar or ultrasonic) commonly used in land areas are subject to dual interference in the deep-sea environment. Mineral dust strongly scatters radar waves, causing more than 30% false echoes. Seawater mist and salt spray weaken ultrasonic signals, causing measurement errors to frequently exceed ±10mm. This is far from meeting the ±2mm feeding requirements of the hoisting system, which can easily lead to blockages or dry runs in the hoisting pipes. In addition, manual maintenance is impossible in the deep-sea environment. The design of existing sensors that rely on periodic manual cleaning is failing. Specifically, dust and salt deposits on the sensor surface can cause detection failure in a short period of time. Cleaning with an underwater ROV is time-consuming (more than 8 hours each time), requiring mining to be suspended, resulting in production losses.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for an innovative device that integrates high pressure adaptability, high detection accuracy, and automatic maintenance to improve the continuous operation capability and safety of deep-sea mining systems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a relay warehouse device and a deep-sea mining system with intelligent detection and adjustment of mineral height, so as to solve the technical problems of poor adaptability, insufficient detection accuracy and difficult sensor maintenance in existing relay warehouse mineral particle height adjustment and detection.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a relay bin device with intelligent detection and adjustment of mineral height, comprising: Relay warehouse; The height adjustment unit includes a housing assembly, an airbag assembly, and a piston assembly. The housing assembly is disposed inside the relay chamber, and the airbag assembly is disposed inside the housing assembly. The airbag assembly forms a high-pressure air chamber. The movable end of the piston assembly extends into the high-pressure air chamber and is slidably connected to the high-pressure air chamber in a sealed manner. By inflating or deflating the high-pressure air chamber, the movable end of the piston assembly can move up and down along the axial direction of the relay chamber to adjust the height of the mineral particles. The detection unit includes a high-pressure waterproof radar and a high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor. The high-pressure waterproof radar and the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor are respectively installed on both sides of the discharge port of the relay chamber and are used to detect the height of the mineral particles. The self-cleaning unit has a cleaning end facing the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor for periodically cleaning the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor.

[0006] In some embodiments, a control unit is also included, which is electrically connected to the airbag assembly, the high-pressure waterproof radar and the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor, and the self-cleaning assembly.

[0007] In some embodiments, the housing assembly includes a pressure-resistant base and a protective cylinder. The pressure-resistant base is connected to the bottom compartment of the relay compartment via a pressure-resistant flange. The protective cylinder is fixed to the pressure-resistant base and has a cavity for placing the airbag assembly.

[0008] In some embodiments, the inner wall of the protective cylinder is coated with a drag-reducing layer and provided with a plurality of limiting rings, the plurality of limiting rings being used to prevent the airbag assembly from over-inflating.

[0009] In some embodiments, the airbag assembly includes a corrosion-resistant airbag, an inflation line, an air pump, and an electromagnetic proportional valve. The corrosion-resistant airbag is disposed in the cavity of the protective cylinder, and the interior of the corrosion-resistant airbag forms the high-pressure air chamber. The high-pressure air chamber is connected to the air pump through the inflation line, and the electromagnetic proportional valve is disposed on the inflation line.

[0010] In some embodiments, the piston assembly includes a pressure-resistant cylinder, a push rod, and an axial adjustment seat. The pressure-resistant cylinder is disposed inside the relay chamber, and one end is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the protective cylinder. The internal space of the pressure-resistant cylinder forms a mineral particle storage chamber. The push rod is disposed in the mineral particle storage chamber and is slidably sealed to the inner wall of the mineral particle storage chamber. The axial adjustment seat is fixed to the top of the push rod.

[0011] In some embodiments, the piston assembly further includes a limiting baffle disposed at one end of the pressure-resistant cylinder near the corrosion-resistant airbag, for limiting the descent of the push rod.

[0012] In some embodiments, the self-cleaning unit includes a seawater storage tank, a filter screen, a nozzle, and a corrosion-resistant cleaning water pump. The seawater storage tank is connected to the mineral particle storage chamber. The filter screen is disposed at the connection between the seawater storage tank and the mineral particle storage chamber. The nozzle is fixed to the wall of the relay chamber and faces the high-pressure waterproof radar and the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor. The other end of the nozzle is connected to the seawater storage tank through a pipeline, and the corrosion-resistant cleaning water pump is disposed on the pipeline.

[0013] Secondly, the present invention also provides a deep-sea mining system, which includes a relay warehouse device for intelligent detection and adjustment of mineral height as described in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention mainly include: This invention provides a relay bin device for intelligent detection and adjustment of mineral height. Its height adjustment unit adopts an airbag design. The flexible airbag assembly avoids the problem of mechanical transmission sealing failure under high pressure, increasing the mean time between failures (MTBF) of the mining system to over 1500 hours. This significantly reduces the maintenance frequency and difficulty of deep-sea mining systems. Furthermore, it uses high-pressure corrosion-resistant materials, with all components having a pressure resistance rating ≥30MPa, suitable for deep-sea operations at depths of 3000 meters. Simultaneously, the detection unit of this invention solves the signal attenuation problem in the high dust and high salt spray environment of the deep sea through a complementary combination of high-pressure waterproof radar and high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensors, controlling the measurement error within ±2mm, which is approximately 60% more accurate than existing technologies. In addition, the self-cleaning unit of this invention fully utilizes the associated seawater in the deep sea, eliminating the need for an additional supply of clean water. It can automatically clean the sensing components periodically, avoiding manual cleaning, greatly reducing maintenance costs, and minimizing production losses caused by maintenance. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the relay warehouse device for intelligent detection and adjustment of mineral height as described in this invention.

[0016] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Height adjustment unit; 110. Housing assembly; 111. Pressure-resistant base; 112. Protective cylinder; 120. Airbag assembly; 121. Corrosion-resistant airbag; 1211. High-pressure air chamber; 130. Piston assembly; 131. Pressure-resistant cylinder; 132. Push rod; 133. Axial adjustment seat; 134. Limiting baffle. 200. Detection unit; 210. High-pressure waterproof radar; 220. High-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor. 300. Self-cleaning unit; 310. Seawater storage tank; 320. Filter screen; 330. Nozzle; 340. Corrosion-resistant cleaning water pump. A. First limiting part, B. Second limiting part. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0018] This invention addresses the problems of existing relay warehouse height detection and adjustment devices in deep-sea high-pressure (10-30MPa), high-salt-spray, and high-dust environments, which suffer from jamming, large detection errors (exceeding ±10mm), and the need for frequent manual maintenance. It provides a relay warehouse device with intelligent mineral height detection and adjustment. This device is suitable for sea areas with depths of 100-3000 meters, has a mean time between failures (MTBF) exceeding 1500 hours, reduces annual maintenance costs by over 2 million yuan, and can be applied to relay warehouses with volumes of 5-20m³. 3 The relay warehouse and the transfer of various minerals effectively improve the continuity and safety of deep-sea mining operations.

[0019] like Figure 1 As shown, this invention provides a relay chamber device with intelligent detection and adjustment of mineral height, including a relay chamber (not shown in the figure), a height adjustment unit 100, a detection unit 200, and a self-cleaning unit 300. The height adjustment unit 100 includes a housing assembly 110, an airbag assembly 120, and a piston assembly 130. The housing assembly 110 is disposed inside the relay chamber, and the airbag assembly 120 is disposed inside the housing assembly 110. The airbag assembly 120 forms a high-pressure air chamber 1211. The movable end of the piston assembly 130 extends into the high-pressure air chamber 1211 and is sealed and slidingly connected to the high-pressure air chamber 1211. The piston assembly 130 is dynamically connected, and by charging and discharging air into the high-pressure air chamber 1211, the movable end of the piston assembly 130 can move up and down along the axial direction of the relay chamber to adjust the height of the mineral particles; the detection unit 200 includes a high-pressure waterproof radar 210 and a high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor 220, which are respectively disposed on both sides of the discharge port of the relay chamber for detecting the height of the mineral particles; the self-cleaning unit 300 has a cleaning end facing the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor 220 for periodically cleaning the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor 220.

[0020] This invention provides a relay bin device for intelligent detection and adjustment of mineral height. Its height adjustment unit 100 adopts an airbag design. The flexible airbag assembly avoids the problem of mechanical transmission sealing failure under high pressure, increasing the mean time between failures (MTBF) of the mining system to over 1500 hours. This significantly reduces the maintenance frequency and difficulty of deep-sea mining systems. Furthermore, it uses high-pressure corrosion-resistant materials, with all components having a pressure resistance rating ≥30MPa, suitable for deep-sea operations at depths of 3000 meters. Simultaneously, the detection unit 200 of this invention, through the complementary use of a high-pressure waterproof radar 210 and a high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor 220, solves the signal attenuation problem in the high dust and high salt spray environment of deep sea, controlling the measurement error within ±2mm, which is approximately 60% more accurate than existing technologies. In addition, the self-cleaning unit 300 of this invention fully utilizes the associated seawater in deep seas, eliminating the need for an additional supply of clean water. It can automatically clean the sensing components periodically, avoiding manual cleaning, greatly reducing maintenance costs, and minimizing production losses caused by maintenance.

[0021] In one embodiment, the housing assembly 110 includes a pressure-resistant base 111 and a protective cylinder 112. The pressure-resistant base 111 is connected to the bottom compartment of the relay compartment via a pressure-resistant flange. The protective cylinder 112 is fixed to the pressure-resistant base 111 and has a cavity for placing the airbag assembly 120.

[0022] In one embodiment, the pressure-resistant base 111 is made of TC4 titanium alloy and is connected to the bottom of the relay compartment via a pressure-resistant flange (the flange sealing level meets the ISO10423 standard and is suitable for 30MPa pressure). The pressure-resistant base 111 has a pressure balance chamber inside.

[0023] In one embodiment, the protective cylinder 112 is made of Hastelloy C-276 material with a wall thickness of 12mm. The inner wall of the protective cylinder 112 is coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene drag-reducing layer and is provided with multiple limiting rings. The multiple limiting rings are used to prevent the airbag assembly from over-inflating.

[0024] In one embodiment, the airbag assembly 120 includes a corrosion-resistant airbag 121, an inflation line, an air pump, and an electromagnetic proportional valve. The corrosion-resistant airbag 121 is disposed in the cavity of the protective cylinder 112, and a high-pressure air chamber 1211 is formed inside the corrosion-resistant airbag 121. The high-pressure air chamber 1211 is connected to the air pump through the inflation line, and the electromagnetic proportional valve is disposed on the inflation line.

[0025] In one embodiment, the corrosion-resistant airbag 121 adopts a fluororubber-aramid fabric composite structure (seawater corrosion resistance grade ≥ ISO15156, pressure resistance grade ≥ 35MPa), is installed inside the protective cylinder 112, and has an adjustable volume between 0.5 and 2L, driving the axial adjustment seat 133 to rise and fall within the range of 300 to 1800mm.

[0026] In one embodiment, the piston assembly 130 includes a pressure-resistant cylinder 131, a push rod 132, and an axial adjustment seat 133. The pressure-resistant cylinder 131 is disposed inside the relay chamber, and one end is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the protective cylinder 112. The internal space of the pressure-resistant cylinder 131 forms a mineral particle storage chamber. The push rod 132 is disposed in the mineral particle storage chamber and is slidably connected to the inner wall of the mineral particle storage chamber. The axial adjustment seat 133 is fixed to the top of the push rod 132.

[0027] In one embodiment, the pressure-resistant cylinder 131 is made of TC4 titanium alloy, and the gap between its outer diameter and the inner diameter of the protective cylinder 112 is ≤0.3mm. Four large holes with a diameter of 25mm and eight small holes with a diameter of 6mm are evenly opened on the outer wall of the pressure-resistant cylinder 131 to balance the pressure difference on both sides of the piston.

[0028] In one embodiment, the push rod 132 is made of Hastelloy with a diameter of 50 mm, and a 20 mm thick polyurethane cushioning pad is installed at the top of the push rod 132.

[0029] In one embodiment, the piston assembly 130 further includes a limiting baffle 134, which is disposed at one end of the pressure-resistant cylinder 131 near the corrosion-resistant airbag 121, and is used to limit the descent of the push rod 132.

[0030] In one embodiment, the horizontal distance between the high-pressure waterproof radar 210 and the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor 220 is 300 mm.

[0031] In one embodiment, the high-pressure waterproof radar 210 uses an 80GHz high-frequency pulse radar (model SIEMENS LR460 deep-sea adaptable type), with a measurement range of 0–2000mm and an accuracy of ±1mm; the radar antenna housing is made of sapphire material and coated with a superhydrophobic coating; the echo signal is transmitted to the control unit through optical fiber.

[0032] In one embodiment, the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor 220 is symmetrically mounted on the other side of the high-pressure waterproof radar 210. It adopts a 40kHz piezoelectric sensor (model Banner U-GAGE deep-sea type), with a measurement range of 200–2000mm and an accuracy of ±0.5mm. The probe shell is made of titanium alloy and has a double-layer waterproof seal.

[0033] In one embodiment, the self-cleaning unit 300 includes a seawater storage tank 310, a filter screen 320, a nozzle 330, and a corrosion-resistant cleaning water pump 340. The seawater storage tank 310 is connected to the mineral particle storage chamber. The filter screen 320 is disposed at the connection between the seawater storage tank 310 and the mineral particle storage chamber. The nozzle 330 is fixed to the wall of the relay chamber and faces the high-pressure waterproof radar 210 and the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor 220. The other end of the nozzle 330 is connected to the seawater storage tank 310 through a pipeline, and the corrosion-resistant cleaning water pump 340 is disposed on the pipeline.

[0034] In one embodiment, the filter 320 is made of titanium alloy sintered mesh (pore size 0.1mm, filtration efficiency ≥99%), installed at an angle and equipped with a backwashing interface, and is backwashed with high-pressure seawater (0.5MPa, lasting 30 seconds) periodically (every 2 hours).

[0035] In one embodiment, the seawater storage device 310 is made of TC4 titanium alloy, has a volume of 100L, and a pressure resistance of ≥35MPa; it is equipped with a liquid level sensor, which automatically opens the water supply valve to replenish seawater when the liquid level is below 20L; and its inner wall is coated with a ceramic coating and has a built-in heating rod (power 500W), which automatically starts when the seawater temperature is below 5℃.

[0036] In one embodiment, the corrosion-resistant cleaning water pump 340 is a diaphragm seawater pump (model GrundfosSPK deep-sea type), made of Hastelloy C-276, with a rated flow rate of 15L / min and an outlet pressure of 0.8MPa; it is controlled by a control unit and starts once every 30 minutes (each time lasting 15 seconds) to draw seawater from the storage tank for cleaning.

[0037] In one embodiment, the nozzle 330 is installed diagonally above the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor 220 (with a spacing of about 20 mm), and adopts a fan-shaped spray head made of titanium alloy (spray angle of about 130°). The nozzle outlet diameter is 1.5 mm and a stainless steel filter is built in. 0.8 MPa high-pressure seawater is sprayed in a directional manner to rinse the surface of the sensor probe, and after cleaning, 0.5 MPa compressed air is used to blow it for 5 seconds.

[0038] Furthermore, existing relay warehouses mostly employ a protection mode that triggers emergency shutdown based on a single height threshold. However, due to the high costs of starting and stopping deep-sea systems (such as the need for several hours for system depressurization and mining machine attitude adjustment), frequent shutdowns can lead to production losses and may cause deformation of the relay warehouse's pressure-resistant shell due to particle overload, endangering overall safety. Therefore, the control unit of this invention adopts a graded protection mechanism of "speed reduction-early warning-shutdown".

[0039] Specifically, the graded protection mechanism includes a control unit, which is electrically connected to the airbag assembly 120, the detection unit 200, and the self-cleaning unit 300. The control unit integrates an ARM Cortex-M7 microprocessor and has a built-in adaptive data fusion algorithm. It intelligently switches between master and slave data sources based on the echo signal intensity of the detection unit 200 to achieve radar and ultrasonic data fusion, ensuring that the measurement error is ≤ ±2mm.

[0040] Specifically, the pressure-resistant cylinder 131 is equipped with a first limiting part A and a second limiting part B near the feed inlet of the device. The first limiting part A is located at a height of 1500mm on the inner wall of the pressure-resistant cylinder 131 (capacitive proximity switch). When the particle height reaches this position, the system reduces the mineral conveying rate from 40m³ / h to 20m³ / h and increases the charging and discharging response speed of the high-pressure air chamber 1211 by 50%. The second limiting part B is located at a height of 1700mm. When the particle height reaches this position, the system issues an early warning and starts a 10-minute countdown. If the particle height does not drop below 1500mm within 10 minutes, the electric valve at the feed inlet is automatically closed and the "slow lifting" mode of the lifting system is triggered, reducing the lifting speed from 0.8m / s to 0.3m / s. The control unit is a remote linkage controller, implemented via LinkQuest. The UWM-1000 underwater acoustic communication module connects to the sea surface central control system, enabling real-time uploading of particle height, sensor status, and cleaning system parameters. It also supports remote adjustment of parameters such as limit thresholds and cleaning frequency by the sea surface central control system.

[0041] The following describes in detail the specific implementation of the present invention using a deep-sea mining operation at a depth of 1000 meters (corresponding to a pressure of approximately 10 MPa): 1. Overall assembly parameters of the device (1) Height adjustment unit 100: The pressure-resistant base 111 is connected to the bottom flange of the relay compartment by M24 titanium alloy bolts, and the bolt pre-tightening torque is 800 N·m; the pressure balance chamber of the pressure-resistant base 111 is connected to the interior of the relay compartment through an air pipe to achieve pressure balance and avoid deformation of the base. The corrosion-resistant airbag 121 has an initial volume of 0.8L and a maximum volume of 2L after inflation. It is connected to the high-pressure air chamber 1211 through a PEEK pressure-resistant air pipe (length 1.5m, outer diameter 12mm, wall thickness 3mm); the control signal of the electromagnetic proportional valve is transmitted through a shielded cable to avoid deep-sea electromagnetic interference. The protective cylinder 112 has an inner diameter of 120mm and a height of 1800mm. The top limiting baffle 134 has an inner diameter of 100mm to prevent the corrosion-resistant airbag 121 from over-expanding. The inner wall of the protective cylinder 112 is coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene coating (thickness 50μm, friction coefficient ≤0.05) to reduce the frictional resistance between the pressure-resistant cylinder 131 and the cylinder wall of the protective cylinder 112. The diameter of the pressure-resistant cylinder 131 is 119.7mm, and the fitting clearance with the protective cylinder 112 is 0.3mm. The total flow area of ​​the large and small holes is 1200mm², ensuring the pressure balance when the push rod 132 is raised and lowered. Its raising and lowering speed can be controlled by adjusting the inflation and deflation rate of the high-pressure air chamber 1211 (0.5–2mm / s).

[0042] (2) Detection Unit 200: The installation height of the high-pressure waterproof radar 210 is 2800mm (from the bottom of the relay compartment), the radar antenna is vertically downward and fixed by a titanium alloy bracket; the radar signal sampling frequency is 10Hz, the echo signal strength threshold is set to 55dB, and ultrasonic sensing is automatically activated when it is below this threshold. The installation height of the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor 220 is 2750mm, the horizontal distance between it and the high-pressure waterproof radar 210 is 300mm, and the probe is tilted downward by 5° to reduce direct impact from particles; the sensor sampling frequency is 15Hz, and the data is synchronously fused with the radar data through the signal processing module, with a data update cycle of 100ms. The power supply voltage of the signal processing module is 24V DC, the power is 15W, and the power is obtained from the underwater power module of the relay compartment; the module has a built-in data storage function, which can cache at least 72 hours of detection data for fault tracing.

[0043] (3) Self-cleaning unit 300: The filter screen 320 has a diameter of 200mm and is installed at the bottom of the relay chamber seawater collection port (diameter 220mm); the backwashing pressure of the filter screen 320 is 0.5MPa, lasting for 30 seconds each time, and is started once every 2 hours. The upper limit of the seawater storage tank 310 is 80L, the lower limit is 20L, the opening pressure of the water supply valve is 0.3MPa, and the closing pressure is 0.8MPa; the seawater storage tank 320 has a built-in heating rod (power 500W), which automatically starts when the seawater temperature is below 5℃ to prevent the seawater from freezing. The inlet pressure of the corrosion-resistant cleaning water pump 340 is 0.2MPa, and the outlet pressure is 0.8MPa; the spray flow rate of the nozzle 330 is 5L / min, and the spray range completely covers the surface of the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor 220 probe (probe diameter 20mm); after cleaning, it is blown with 0.5MPa compressed air for 5 seconds to ensure that there is no residual moisture on the probe surface.

[0044] (4) Control Unit: The first limiting part A is installed at a height of 1500mm (from the bottom of the relay bin). When the particle height reaches this position, the system sends a 4-20mA analog signal to the frequency converter conveyor of the mining machine through the signal processing module, reducing the conveying rate from 40m³ / h to 20m³ / h; at the same time, it increases the gas filling and discharging response speed of the high-pressure air chamber 1211, accelerates the lifting and lowering of the push rod 132, and controls the particle height to fall back. The second limiting part B is installed at a height of 1700mm. When the particle height reaches this position, the system first sends a warning signal to the sea surface central control, and the sea surface operator can remotely intervene within 10 minutes; if the particle height does not drop below 1500mm within 10 minutes, the system automatically closes the electric valve of the feed inlet (closing time ≤ 3 seconds) and triggers the "slow lifting" mode of the lifting system (lifting speed is reduced from 0.8m / s to 0.3m / s).

[0045] 2. Deep-sea operation process of the device (1) Start-up phase: Before the mining machine starts operation, the sea surface control unit sends a "preheating" command, the high pressure air chamber 1211 is filled with air to 5MPa, and the push rod 132 rises to the middle position (particle bearing surface height 1000mm); the detection unit 200 performs a self-test, and starts after confirming that the radar and ultrasonic sensors are normal, and the self-cleaning unit 300 performs the first cleaning (30 seconds). (2) Normal operation stage: The mining machine conveys mineral particles to the relay bin through the feed inlet. The detection unit 200 collects height data in real time. The signal processing module dynamically adjusts the pressure of the high-pressure air chamber 1211 according to the detection results to keep the particle height stable at 1200-1400mm (the optimal feeding height for the lifting system). The self-cleaning unit 300 cleans the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor 220 every 30 minutes, and the filter screen 320 is backwashed every 2 hours. (3) Graded protection stage: When the particle height reaches 1500mm (first limit part A), the system automatically reduces the conveying speed to 20m³ / h and accelerates the rising speed of push rod 132; if the particle height continues to rise to 1700mm (second limit part B), the system issues an early warning and automatically reduces the conveyor speed (the lifting system switches to slow lifting mode) until the particle height falls back to a safe range; (4) Shutdown phase: After mining is completed, the system first closes the feed port. After the particles are completely transported to the hoisting system through the discharge port, the high-pressure air chamber 1211 releases the air, and the push rod 132 descends to the lower limit (particle bearing surface height 300mm). Then the self-cleaning system performs the final cleaning (60 seconds), the signal processing module records and saves the operating data, and the shutdown is completed.

[0046] 3. Fault diagnosis and remote maintenance The signal processing module has a built-in fault diagnosis function, which can monitor status parameters such as the pressure of the corrosion-resistant airbag 121, sensor signals, and the flow rate of the corrosion-resistant cleaning water pump 340 in real time. When faults such as leakage of the corrosion-resistant airbag 121 (pressure drop rate > 0.1 MPa / h), abnormal sensor signals (no valid data for 10 consecutive seconds), or insufficient flow rate of the corrosion-resistant cleaning water pump 340 (< 5 L / min) are detected, the system sends an alarm signal to the surface control unit through the underwater acoustic communication module and initiates corresponding emergency measures (such as emergency air replenishment to the airbag, switching to backup sensors, and shutting down the cleaning system). After a fault occurs, the surface operator can remotely adjust parameters such as limit thresholds and cleaning frequency without ROV intervention; for serious faults, the ROV will dive down to replace the components, and the maintenance time can be controlled within 4 hours.

[0047] In addition, the present invention also provides a deep-sea mining system, which includes the relay warehouse device described above that allows for intelligent detection and adjustment of mineral height.

[0048] In summary, the relay bin device for intelligent detection and adjustment of mineral height provided by this invention has the following beneficial effects: (1) Strong adaptability to high pressure environment: The height adjustment unit 100 is made of high pressure and corrosion resistant materials such as titanium alloy and Hastelloy alloy. All components have a pressure resistance rating of ≥30MPa and can adapt to a depth of 3000 meters. The flexible airbag adjustment avoids the problem of mechanical transmission sealing failure under high pressure, which increases the MTBF (mean time between failures) to more than 1500 hours, greatly reducing the frequency and difficulty of deep-sea maintenance. (2) High anti-interference detection accuracy: The detection unit 200 solves the signal attenuation problem in the deep-sea high dust and high salt spray environment, and the measurement error is controlled within ±2mm, which is about 60% higher than that of a single sensor; the superhydrophobic coating and waterproof sealing design of the sensor shell ensure the stability of long-term operation. (3) Fully automatic operation and maintenance cost is low: The self-cleaning unit 300 makes full use of the deep-sea associated seawater, without the need for additional clean water supply. The cleaning frequency can be automatically adjusted, avoiding manual cleaning by ROV. It is estimated that this system can reduce maintenance costs by more than RMB 2 million per year and reduce production capacity loss caused by maintenance. (4) Graded protection improves efficiency: The three-level protection mechanism avoids frequent emergency shutdowns in deep-sea operations, reducing the downtime of 8 hours for a single fault to less than 1 hour, and increasing the annual effective operating time of the mining system by more than 10%. (5) Strong versatility and wide adaptability: This device can be adapted to different types of relay chambers with a volume of 5–20 m³. By adjusting the pressure of the high-pressure air chamber 1211 and the sensor threshold, it can meet the transportation needs of various minerals such as polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich crusts, and hydrothermal sulfides.

[0049] The specific embodiments of the present invention described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. Any other corresponding changes and modifications made in accordance with the technical concept of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A mineral highly intelligent detection and regulation relay warehouse device, characterized in that, The deep-sea mining system comprises a mineral height intelligent detection and adjustment relay bin device. The relay bin; The height adjustment unit comprises a shell assembly, an air bag assembly and a piston assembly, the shell assembly is arranged inside the relay bin, the air bag assembly is arranged inside the shell assembly, the air bag assembly forms a high-pressure air chamber, the movable end of the piston assembly extends into the high-pressure air chamber and is in sealed sliding connection with the high-pressure air chamber, and the movable end of the piston assembly moves up and down along the axial direction of the relay bin to adjust the height of the mineral particles by charging and discharging the high-pressure air chamber. The detection unit comprises a high-pressure waterproof radar and a high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor, and the high-pressure waterproof radar and the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor are arranged on both sides of the discharge port of the relay bin respectively, and are used for detecting the height of the mineral particles. The self-cleaning unit has a cleaning end, which faces the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor and is used for regularly cleaning the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor.

2. The mineral highly intelligently detectable and regulated relay bin arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control unit is electrically connected with the air bag assembly, the high-pressure waterproof radar and the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor and the self-cleaning assembly.

3. The mineral highly intelligently detectable and regulated relay bin arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein, The shell assembly comprises a pressure-resistant base and a protective cylinder, the pressure-resistant base is connected with the bottom cabin of the relay bin through a pressure-resistant flange, the protective cylinder is fixed on the pressure-resistant base, and the protective cylinder has a cavity for placing the air bag assembly.

4. The mineral highly intelligently detectable and regulated relay bin arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein, The inner wall of the protective cylinder is coated with a drag-reducing layer and is provided with a plurality of limiting rings, and the plurality of limiting rings are used for preventing the air bag assembly from over-expanding.

5. The mineral highly intelligently detectable and regulated relay bin arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein, The air bag assembly comprises a corrosion-resistant air bag, an inflation pipeline, an air pump and an electromagnetic proportional valve, the corrosion-resistant air bag is arranged in the cavity of the protective cylinder, the inside of the corrosion-resistant air bag forms the high-pressure air chamber, the high-pressure air chamber is connected with the air pump through the inflation pipeline, and the electromagnetic proportional valve is arranged on the inflation pipeline.

6. The mineral highly intelligently detectable and regulated relay bin arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein, The piston assembly comprises a pressure-resistant cylinder, a push rod and an axial adjustment seat, the pressure-resistant cylinder is arranged inside the relay bin and is fixedly connected with the outer wall of the protective cylinder at one end, the inside of the pressure-resistant cylinder forms a mineral particle storage chamber, the push rod is arranged in the mineral particle storage chamber and is in sealed sliding connection with the inner wall of the mineral particle storage chamber, and the axial adjustment seat is fixed on the top of the push rod.

7. The mineral highly intelligently detectable and regulated relay bin arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein, The piston assembly further comprises a limiting baffle, the limiting baffle is arranged at one end of the pressure-resistant cylinder close to the corrosion-resistant air bag and is used for limiting the downward movement of the push rod.

8. The mineral highly intelligently detectable and regulated relay bin arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein, The self-cleaning unit comprises a seawater storage tank, a filter screen, a nozzle and a corrosion-resistant cleaning water pump, the seawater storage tank is communicated with the mineral particle storage chamber, the filter screen is arranged at the communication position of the seawater storage tank and the mineral particle storage chamber, the nozzle is fixed on the bin wall of the relay bin and faces the high-pressure waterproof radar and the high-pressure waterproof ultrasonic sensor, the other end of the nozzle is connected with the seawater storage tank through a pipeline, and the corrosion-resistant cleaning water pump is arranged on the pipeline.

9. A deep sea mining system characterised in that, The deep-sea mining system comprises the mineral height intelligent detection and adjustment relay bin device according to any one of claims 1-8.

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