Ore charging equipment, ore recovery system, ore charging method

Abstract

To ensure good feeding of ore into a circulation line at the bottom of the water.SOLUTION: Ore charging equipment is ore charging equipment that inputs ore into a circulation line that circulates water between an ore recovery unit located above the water and the bottom of the water, and comprises a charging device having an ore supply unit capable of supplying ore mined at the bottom of the water, a tank capable of storing the ore supplied from the ore supply unit, a discharge unit capable of discharging the ore from inside the tank, a junction unit that merges the ore discharged from the tank with the water in the circulation line, and a drainage line that can discharge some of the water inside the tank to the outside of the tank, and a water supply line that can introduce water upstream of the junction in the circulation line into the inside of the tank.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an ore injection facility, an ore recovery system, and an ore injection method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an ore-lifting system for recovering mineral resources extracted from the bottom of the sea or the like. This ore-lifting system circulates water between an ore-injection device placed on the bottom of the water and an ore-recovery unit placed above the water using a pump through a circulation flow path including an outward pipe and a return pipe. The outward pipe sends water to the ore-injection device using a pump. The ore-injection device stores the ore collected at the bottom of the water in a sealed container. The ore-injection device injects the stored ore into the return pipe. The return pipe mixes the ore and water input from the ore-injection device and sends the mixture to the ore-recovery unit. The ore-recovery unit recovers the ore contained in the water sent through the return pipe. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6557762 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the ore charging device is located near the bottom of the water (sea bottom), so the pressure of the water pumped from the pump to the bottom of the water through the forward piping becomes higher than the water pressure at the bottom of the water (sea bottom).Then, the water pressure becomes higher than the pressure inside the sealed container of the ore charging device, and there is a possibility that the ore cannot be properly charged from the ore charging device to the return piping.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide ore charging equipment, an ore recovery system, and an ore charging method that can effectively charge ore into a circulation line at the bottom of the water. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the ore input equipment according to the present disclosure inputs ore into a circulation line that circulates water between an ore recovery unit arranged above the water and the bottom of the water. The ore input equipment includes an ore supply unit, a input device, and a water supply line. The ore supply unit is capable of supplying ore mined at the bottom of the water. The input device has a tank, a delivery unit, a junction, and a drainage line. The tank is capable of storing the ore supplied from the ore supply unit. The delivery unit is capable of sending out the ore from inside the tank. The junction unit merges the ore sent from the tank with the water in the circulation line. The drainage line is capable of discharging a portion of the water inside the tank to the outside of the tank. The water supply line is capable of introducing water upstream of the junction in the circulation line into the inside of the tank.

[0007] The ore recovery system according to the present disclosure includes an ore recovery unit, an ore input facility as described above, and a circulation line. The ore recovery unit is disposed on water. The circulation line circulates water between the ore recovery unit and the confluence of the ore input facility.

[0008] The ore charging method according to the present disclosure is an ore charging method in the ore charging facility as described above. The ore charging method includes a storing step and a merging step. In the storing step, ore mined at the bottom of the water is stored inside a tank. In the merging step, water upstream of the merging part in the circulation line is introduced into the tank, while the ore is sent from inside the tank to the merging part, and the ore is merged with the water in the circulation line. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the ore charging equipment, ore recovery system, and ore charging method disclosed herein, ore can be effectively charged into the circulation line at the bottom of the water. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ore recovery system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an ore charging facility according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing one of a plurality of tank sections provided in the ore input equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a junction portion in an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a junction in the embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart showing the steps of an ore input method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating the state of a tank portion during a process of storing ore inside a tank according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a state of the tank part in a waiting process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 13 is a diagram showing the state of the tank section during a process of merging the ore inside the tank with the water in the circulation line according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram showing a state in which ore is being supplied from an ore input facility to a circulation line in an ore recovery system having multiple tank units according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state following FIG. 10 in an ore recovery system having multiple tank portions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state following FIG. 11 in an ore recovery system having multiple tank portions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a junction portion in a first modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a junction portion in a first modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a junction portion in a first modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 3, illustrating a configuration of a junction portion in a first modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a junction portion in a first modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 18] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a junction portion in a first modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an ore charging facility, an ore recovery system, and an ore charging method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. (Overall configuration of the ore recovery system) As shown in FIG. 1, the ore recovery system 1 of this embodiment includes an ore recovery section 2, a circulation line 3, an ore charging equipment 4, a water supply line 7, a bypass line 8, and an ore discharge section 9. In the ore recovery system 1, water is circulated between the ore recovery section 2 arranged above the water and the ore charging equipment 4 arranged on the water bottom B by the circulation line 3. In the ore recovery system 1, the ore charging equipment 4 charges the ore mined on the water bottom B into the circulation line 3. The circulation line 3 lifts the ore charged by the ore charging equipment 4 to the water surface together with the water circulating through the circulation line 3 (hereinafter, this is referred to as lifting). The ore recovery section 2 recovers the ore sent together with the water through the circulation line 3. Examples of ores recovered by the ore recovery system 1 include hydrothermal deposits, cobalt-rich crusts, manganese crusts, and methane hydrates.

[0012] (Ore Recovery Section Composition) The ore recovery unit 2 is disposed on the water Ws, such as the sea. The ore recovery unit 2 of this embodiment includes a mother ship 20, a pump 21, a dewatering device 22, an ore tank 24, and a control room 25.

[0013] The mother ship 20 is a floating body floating on the water Ws. An example of the mother ship 20 is a navigable ship. The pump 21, the dewatering device 22, the ore tank 24, and the control room 25 are each provided in the mother ship 20. The positions of the pump 21, the dewatering device 22, the ore tank 24, and the control room 25 in the mother ship 20 are not limited in any way. The pump 21, the dewatering device 22, and the control room 25 may be provided, for example, in the hull below the upper deck of the mother ship 20, or may be provided on the upper deck.

[0014] A pump 21 circulates the water in the circulation line 3 between the ore recovery section 2 on the mother ship 20 and the input device 5 of the ore input equipment 4 arranged on the bottom of the water B. The water circulating in the circulation line 3 can be the water around where the mother ship 20 floats.

[0015] The dewatering device 22 separates the ore from the water containing the ore sent from the ore recovery section 2 through the circulation line 3. The water that has passed through the dewatering device 22 is sent to the ore charging equipment 4 at the bottom B by a pump 21 provided downstream of the dewatering device 22 in the circulation line 3. The ore that has passed through the dewatering device 22 is stored in an ore tank 24.

[0016] The control room 25 remotely controls the operation of the pump 21 and the ore charging equipment 4. The control room 25 detects the state of each part of the pump 21 and the ore charging equipment 4 by using a sensor (not shown) or the like. An operator controls the operation of the pump 21 and each part of the ore charging equipment 4 by performing a predetermined operation on a switch or the like provided on a control panel (not shown) provided in the control room 25 based on the state of each part displayed on the control panel.

[0017] The circulation line 3 has an outward piping 31 that sends water from above the water to the water bottom B, and a return piping 32 that sends water from the water bottom B to above the water. In this embodiment, the outward piping 31 runs from the dewatering device 22 above the water through the pump 21 to the ore charging equipment 4 on the water bottom B. The return piping 32 runs from the ore charging equipment 4 on the water bottom B to the dewatering device 22 above the water.

[0018] (Configuration of ore charging facility) FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an ore charging facility according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The ore charging equipment 4 is installed near the water bottom B. As shown in FIG. 2, the ore charging equipment 4 includes a charging device 5, an ore supply unit 6, and a water supply line . The input device 5 includes a plurality of tank sections 41 and a junction section 50. In this embodiment, the tank section 41 includes, for example, three tank sections 41A to 41C. The tank section 41 may include one or two tank sections, but as described in detail later, it is preferable to provide three or more tank sections in order to perform continuous ore lifting.

[0019] 3 is a diagram showing one of a plurality of tank units provided in the ore charging equipment according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, three tank units 41A to 41C are provided, but since the tank units 41A to 41C have a common configuration, the following description will only cover one tank unit 41. As shown in FIG. 3, each tank section 41 includes a tank 42, a dispensing device 45, a delivery section 46, and a drain line 44.

[0020] The tank 42 is capable of storing therein the ore supplied from the ore supply unit 6. Specifically, the tank 42 is capable of storing therein the ore supplied via a connection line 68 of the ore supply unit 6, which will be described later. The tank 42 is, for example, cylindrical and extending in the vertical direction. The bottom 42b of the tank 42 is formed in a truncated cone shape whose inner diameter gradually decreases from the top to the bottom. A dispensing device 45 is connected to the bottom 42b of the tank 42.

[0021] The dispensing device 45 has an impeller 45s that is driven to rotate around a horizontal axis. The dispensing device 45 dispenses the ore that falls from the bottom of the tank 42 due to its own weight, depending on the rotation speed of the impeller 45s. The dispensing device 45 can adjust the amount of ore dispensed by controlling the rotation speed of the impeller 45s.

[0022] The delivery unit 46 is capable of delivering the ore from inside the tank 42. The delivery unit 46 includes an ore delivery line 46a and an ore delivery valve 46v. The ore delivery line 46a is a pipe that connects the dispensing device 45 and the junction 50. The ore delivery line 46a delivers the ore delivered from the tank 42 to the junction 50. The ore delivery valve 46v is provided midway along the ore delivery line 46a. The ore delivery valve 46v opens and closes the ore delivery line 46a.

[0023] In the delivery section 46, the open / closed state of the ore injection valve 46v is monitored by a control panel or the like provided in the control room 25. The ore injection valve 46v is opened and closed by a predetermined operation by an operator performed by a control panel or the like provided in the control room 25, or by automatic control by a control device (not shown). In the delivery section 46, when the ore injection valve 46v is opened in a state where the pressure is equalized with the circulation line 3 by the water supply line 7 described later, the ore stored inside the tank 42 falls into the junction section 50 together with the water stored in the tank 42 through the dispensing device 45 and the ore injection line 46a.

[0024] The drain line 44 is provided at the top of the tank 42. The drain line 44 is capable of discharging a portion of the water inside the tank 42 to the outside of the tank 42. The drain line 44 includes a drain pipe 44a and a drain valve 44v. One end of the drain pipe 44a is connected to the tank 42. The drain pipe 44a extends, for example, upward from the top of the tank 42. The extension direction of the drain pipe 44a may be other than upward. The other end of the drain pipe 44a is open into the water.

[0025] In such a drain line 44, the open / close state of the drain valve 44v is monitored by a control panel or the like provided in the control room 25. The drain valve 44v is opened and closed by a predetermined operation by an operator performed on a control panel or the like provided in the control room 25, or by automatic control by a control device (not shown). The drain valve 44v of the drain line 44 is opened when ore is supplied from the ore supply unit 6 described later. This allows the water overflowing from the tank 42 when water flows into the tank 42 together with the ore from the ore supply unit 6 to be discharged into the water through the drain pipe 44a.

[0026] The junction 50 merges the ore sent out from the tank 42 with the water in the circulation line 3. As shown in Fig. 2, the junction 50 is connected to the downstream end 31b of the outward pipe 31 and the upstream end 32a of the return pipe 32.

[0027] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a junction portion in an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in Fig. 4, showing the configuration of a junction portion in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the confluence section 50 in this embodiment includes a container section 51, an ore inlet 53, a water inlet 54, and a discharge outlet 55.

[0028] The container 51 is integrally provided with a cylindrical portion 51a and a reduced diameter portion 51b. The cylindrical portion 51a is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. The cylindrical portion 51a has a constant inner diameter in the vertical direction. The reduced diameter portion 51b is formed in the lower portion of the container 51, i.e., below the cylindrical portion 51a. The inner surface of the reduced diameter portion 51b is formed so as to gradually reduce in diameter from the top to the bottom.

[0029] The ore inlet 53 is provided at the top of the container section 51. The ore inlet 53 injects the ore discharged from the delivery sections 46 of the multiple sets of tank sections 41 into the container section 51. As shown in FIG. 2, the ore input lines 46a of the delivery sections 46 of the three sets of tank sections 41 in this embodiment are connected to the ore inlet 53.

[0030] The water inlet 54 introduces water flowing through the circulation line 3 into the container 51. The downstream end 31b of the forward piping 31 is connected to the water inlet 54. In this embodiment, the water inlet 54 is connected to the container 51 so that a swirling flow around the vertical axis Cv is generated inside the container 51. In this embodiment, the water inlet 54 is disposed at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 51a, radially outward of the cylindrical portion 51a with respect to the vertical axis Cv located at the center of the cylindrical portion 51a. The water inlet 54 is connected to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 51a. The water inlet 54 extends in the tangential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 51a.

[0031] The discharge port 55 is connected to the lower end of the reduced diameter portion 51b. The discharge port 55 extends downward from the lower end of the reduced diameter portion 51b and is connected to the upstream end 32a of the return pipe 32.

[0032] In such a confluence 50, the ore discharged from the tank 42 through the discharge section 46 is fed into the container section 51 through the ore inlet 53. Meanwhile, water flowing through the forward piping 31 of the circulation line 3 is introduced into the container section 51 through the water inlet 54. As a result, the ore is mixed with the water in the container section 51 to generate a so-called slurry. Since the water inlet 54 is provided so as to generate a swirling flow around the vertical axis Cv inside the container section 51, the slurry containing the ore and the water is well stirred. The stirred slurry is sent out to the return piping 32 from the discharge outlet 55 connected to the bottom of the container section 51. In this way, the ore is charged into the circulation line 3 from the confluence 50.

[0033] The ore supply unit 6 is capable of charging the ore mined at the bottom of the water to the charging device 5. The ore supply unit 6 has an ore collector 61, an ore supply line 62, and a supply destination switching unit 63.

[0034] The ore collector 61 collects ore mined on the water bottom B. The ore collector 61 is configured to be self-propelled on the water bottom B. The ore collector 61 collects ore mined on the water bottom B by, for example, sucking it in. The ore mined on the water bottom B may also be input to the ore collector 61 by a work machine equipped with a bucket that scoops up the ore. The ore collector 61 sends the collected ore together with water sucked in from around the ore collector 61 to the ore supply line 62. The ore supply line 62 sends the water containing the ore sent out from the ore collector 61 to the supply destination switching unit 63.

[0035] The supply destination switching unit 63 includes a main body 64, a charging mechanism 65, a plurality of discharge ports 66, a plurality of connection lines 68, and an ore supply valve 68v. The ore collected by the ore collector 61 is fed into the main body 64 through the ore supply line 62. The main body 64 is hollow and has a plurality of input spaces 64s therein into which the ore collected by the ore collector 61 is fed. The plurality of input spaces 64s are formed in the lower part of the main body 64. The plurality of input spaces 64s are formed by dividing the inside of the main body 64 by partition walls. Each of the plurality of input spaces 64s opens upward within the main body 64.

[0036] The charging mechanism 65 is provided at an upper part inside the main body 64. The charging mechanism 65 has a movable pipe 65m. One end of the movable pipe 65m is connected to the ore supply line 62. The lower end of the movable pipe 65m opens downward above the multiple charging spaces 64s. The movable pipe 65m is driven by a driving mechanism (not shown) inside the main body 64, and is movable so that the opening of the lower end of the movable pipe 65m is positioned above any one of the multiple charging spaces 64s.

[0037] The multiple discharge ports 66 are provided at the bottom of the main body 64. The multiple discharge ports 66 are provided so as to communicate with each of the multiple input spaces 64s in the main body 64. In this embodiment, three discharge ports 66 are provided. The ore collected by the ore collector 61 is selectively input into one of the multiple input spaces 64s.

[0038] The multiple connection lines 68 connect the multiple discharge ports 66 to each of the multiple sets of tank sections 41. Each of the multiple connection lines 68 is equipped with an ore supply valve 68v. The ore supply valve 68v is provided midway along each connection line 68. The ore supply valve 68v opens and closes each connection line 68. The open / closed state of the ore supply valve 68v is monitored by a control panel or the like provided in the control room 25. The ore supply valve 68v opens and closes by a predetermined operation by an operator performed on a control panel or the like provided in the control room 25, or by automatic control by a control device (not shown).

[0039] In such a supply destination switching unit 63, the movable pipe 65m of the input mechanism 65 is moved to position the opening at the lower end of the movable pipe 65m above one of the multiple input spaces 64s, thereby supplying the ore to one of the multiple input spaces 64s. Furthermore, by opening the ore supply valve 68v of the connection line 68 connected to the discharge port 66 communicating with the input space 64s into which the ore has been input, the ore supplied to the input space 64s is supplied through the connection line 68 into the tank 42 to which the connection line 68 is connected.

[0040] (Water supply line configuration) The water supply line 7 is capable of introducing water upstream of the junction 50 in the circulation line 3 into the tanks 42 of the multiple tank units 41. The water supply line 7 has a main pipe 71 and multiple branch pipes 72. One end 71a of the main pipe 71 is connected to the circulation line 3 upstream of the junction 50. The multiple branch pipes 72 branch off from the main pipe 71. Each of the multiple branch pipes 72 is connected to each of the tanks 42 of the multiple tank units 41. A supply on-off valve 72v is provided in the middle of each branch pipe 72. Each supply on-off valve 72v opens and closes the branch pipe 72 to turn on and off the supply of water through the water supply line 7 to each tank 42.

[0041] The open / closed state of each supply on-off valve 72v is monitored by a control panel or the like provided in the control room 25. Each supply on-off valve 72v is opened and closed by a predetermined operation by an operator performed on a control panel or the like provided in the control room 25, or by automatic control by a control device (not shown). When the supply on-off valve 72v of the water supply line 7 is opened, the water in the circulation line 3 upstream of the junction 50 is introduced into the tank .

[0042] (Bypass line configuration) The bypass line 8 is provided from the circulation line 3 to bypass the junction 50. The bypass line 8 includes a bypass pipe 81 and a bypass valve 81v. One end 81a of the bypass pipe 81 is connected to the outward pipe 31 upstream of the junction 50. The other end 81b of the bypass pipe 81 is connected to the return pipe 32 downstream of the junction 50. The bypass valve 81v is provided midway along the bypass pipe 81. The bypass valve 81v opens and closes the bypass pipe 81 to interrupt the flow of water in the bypass line 8.

[0043] The open / closed state of the bypass valve 81v is monitored by a control panel or the like provided in the control room 25. The bypass valve 81v is opened and closed by a predetermined operation by an operator performed on a control panel or the like provided in the control room 25, or by automatic control by a control device (not shown). By opening the bypass valve 81v of the bypass line 8, the water flowing through the circulation line 3 flows bypassing the junction 50.

[0044] (Ore input procedure) Next, the steps of the ore charging method 10 according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the ore charging method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the state of the tank part in the process of storing the ore inside the tank according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 6, the ore charging method 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a step S11 of storing ore inside a tank, a step S12 of waiting, and a step S13 of merging the ore inside the tank with the water in the circulation line. Here, in the following description, the operation of the pump 21, the ore supply valve 68v, the drain valve 44v, the supply opening / closing valve 72v, the ore charging valve 46v, the bypass valve 81v, the ore discharge valve 91v, and the movable pipe 65m will be described as an example in which the operation is performed by an operator performing a predetermined operation on a control panel provided in the control room 25. In addition, in this embodiment, the procedure of the ore charging method 10 in one tank part 41 (for example, tank part 41A) among the multiple tank parts 41 will be described first.

[0046] First, in order to feed the ore mined on the bottom B from the ore input facility 4 into the circulation line 3 and lift it to the mother ship 20 on the surface Ws, the pump 21 is operated in advance to circulate water at a predetermined flow rate through the circulation line 3. In addition, the bypass valve 81v and the ore discharge valve 91v are always closed unless an abnormality occurs in the junction 50 or the like.

[0047] In step S11 of storing the ore inside the tank, the ore mined at the bottom B is stored inside the tank 42. For this, as shown in Fig. 7, the ore supply valve 68v and the drain valve 44v are opened, and the supply opening / closing valve 72v and the ore introduction valve 46v are closed. Also, the opening at the lower end of the movable pipe 65m of the introduction mechanism 65 is moved above the introduction space 64s that communicates with the connection line 68 connected to the tank 42.

[0048] As a result, the ore mined at the bottom B and collected by the ore collector 61 is sent to the ore supply line 62 together with the water sucked in from around the ore collector 61. The water and ore sent to the ore supply line 62 are then distributed to a connection line 68 connected to the tank 42 via a feeding mechanism 65, and supplied into the tank 42. At this time, if the water supplied into the tank 42 together with the ore exceeds the internal capacity of the tank 42, the excess water is discharged into the water outside the tank 42 through the drainage line 44. This step S11 continues until a predetermined amount or more of ore is stored in the tank 42.

[0049] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of the tank part in a waiting step according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In the waiting step S12, when a predetermined amount of ore or more is stored in the tank 42, the ore supply valve 68v and the drain valve 44v are closed. As a result, as shown in Fig. 8, the ore supply valve 68v, the drain valve 44v, the supply opening / closing valve 72v, and the ore injection valve 46v are closed. As a result, the supply of ore to the tank 42 is stopped.

[0050] While the tank 42 is performing the waiting step S12, the other tank 42 performs the step S11 of storing the ore inside the tank and the step S13 of merging the ore inside the tank with the water in the circulation line. That is, the tank 42 waits with the ore stored therein until the other tank 42 completes the step S11 of storing the ore inside the tank and the step S13 of merging the ore inside the tank with the water in the circulation line. When the other tank 42 completes the step S11 of storing the ore inside the tank and the step S13 of merging the ore inside the tank with the water in the circulation line, the tank unit 41 proceeds to step S13.

[0051] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state of the tank part in a process of causing the ore inside the tank to merge with the water in the circulation line according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In step S13, in which the ore in the tank is merged with the water in the circulation line, the supply on-off valve 72v and the ore input valve 46v are opened. The other ore supply valves 68v and the drain valve 44v are kept closed. As a result, the water upstream of the junction 50 in the circulation line 3 is introduced into the tank 42 through the water supply line 7. In this way, by introducing the water upstream of the junction 50 in the circulation line 3 into the tank 42, the pressure in the tank 42 is equalized and becomes almost equal to the pressure in the circulation line 3, which is connected through the ore input line 46a and the junction 50. In other words, the pressure in the tank 42 rises to a pressure equivalent to the pressure in the circulation line 3.

[0052] Furthermore, the ore stored in the tank 42 is sent from the ore charging port 53 of the junction 50 into the container section 51 through the ore charging line 46a by the flow of water introduced from the water supply line 7 and the weight of the ore itself.

[0053] At the confluence 50, the water flowing through the circulation line 3 is introduced from the outward piping 31 into the container 51 through the water inlet 54. As a result, the ore is mixed with the water in the container 51 to generate a so-called slurry. The water inlet 54 is provided so as to generate a swirling flow around the vertical axis Cv inside the container 51, so that the slurry containing the ore in the water is well stirred. The stirred slurry is sent out from the discharge port 55 connected to the bottom of the container 51 to the return piping 32. In this way, the ore is introduced into the circulation line 3 from the confluence 50. This step S13 continues until all of the ore in the tank 42 has been charged into the circulation line. After all of the ore has been charged, the process returns to step S11, and thereafter, the above-mentioned series of steps S11 to S13 are repeated.

[0054] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which ore is supplied from an ore input facility to a circulation line in an ore recovery system having a plurality of tank units according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a state following Fig. 10 in an ore recovery system having a plurality of tank units according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a state following Fig. 11 in an ore recovery system having a plurality of tank units according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0055] In the ore recovery system 1 of this embodiment, which has multiple (three) sets of tank sections 41, the above-mentioned steps S11 to S13 are carried out at different times between the tank sections 41A to 41C, so that ore is continuously supplied from the ore feeding equipment 4 to the circulation line 3. For this, at least two tank sections 41 (tank sections 41B and 41C in the example of FIG. 10) are set in advance to a state in which a predetermined amount or more of ore is stored in the tank 42. For example, in the example of FIG. 10, in tank section 41B, step S11 of storing ore inside the tank is completed, and a predetermined amount or more of ore is stored in the tank 42. In addition, in tank section 41C, step S11 of storing ore inside the tank and step S12 of waiting are completed.

[0056] 10, a step S11 of storing the ore inside the tank is executed in the tank part 41A. For this, the ore supply valve 68v and the drain valve 44v are opened, the supply opening / closing valve 72v and the ore introduction valve 46v are closed, and the opening at the lower end of the movable pipe 65m of the introduction mechanism 65 is moved above the introduction space 64s that communicates with the connection line 68 connected to the tank 42 of the tank part 41A. At this time, in the tank unit 41B, the ore supply valve 68v, the drain valve 44v, the supply on-off valve 72v, and the ore input valve 46v are closed, and a standby process S12 is executed. In addition, in the tank unit 41C, the supply on-off valve 72v and the ore input valve 46v are opened to operate the dispensing device 45, and the ore supply valve 68v and the drain valve 44v are closed to execute a process S13 in which the ore inside the tank is merged with the water in the circulation line.

[0057] 11, the tank unit 41A executes step S12 of closing the ore supply valve 68v, the drain valve 44v, the supply on-off valve 72v, and the ore input valve 46v and waiting. The tank unit 41B executes step S13 of opening the supply on-off valve 72v and the ore input valve 46v to operate the dispensing device 45, and closing the ore supply valve 68v and the drain valve 44v to merge the ore inside the tank with the water in the circulation line. The tank unit 41C executes step S11 of storing the ore inside the tank by opening the ore supply valve 68v and the drain valve 44v and closing the supply on-off valve 72v and the ore input valve 46v.

[0058] 12, in the tank section 41A, the supply on-off valve 72v and the ore input valve 46v are opened to operate the discharge device 45, and the ore supply valve 68v and the drain valve 44v are closed to execute step S13 in which the ore inside the tank is merged with the water in the circulation line. In the tank section 41B, the ore supply valve 68v and the drain valve 44v are opened, and the supply on-off valve 72v and the ore input valve 46v are closed to execute step S11 in which the ore is stored inside the tank. In the tank section 41C, the ore supply valve 68v, the drain valve 44v, the supply on-off valve 72v, and the ore input valve 46v are closed, and step S12 in which the tank is on standby is executed. 10, 11, and 12 are sequentially repeated. In this manner, ore is continuously fed into the circulation line 3 from the tank portions 41A, 41B, and 41C in sequence.

[0059] (Action and effect) In the above embodiment, the ore mined at the bottom of the water B is supplied to the inside of the tank 42 by the ore supply unit 6. The ore stored in the tank 42 is sent out from the tank 42 by the delivery unit 46 and merged into the circulation line 3 by the merging unit 50. Water upstream of the merging unit 50 in the circulation line 3 is introduced into the tank 42 by the water supply line 7. When the ore stored in the tank 42 is sent out from the tank 42 by the delivery unit 46, the water upstream of the merging unit 50 in the circulation line 3 is introduced into the tank 42 by the water supply line 7, so that the pressure in the tank 42 becomes equal to the pressure in the circulation line 3. Therefore, the ore can be smoothly introduced into the circulation line 3 at the bottom of the water B.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the ore charging equipment 4 includes the supply on-off valve 72v, the ore charging line 46a, and the ore charging valve 46v. When the ore stored in the tank 42 is discharged from the tank 42 by the discharge unit 46, the supply on-off valve 72v is opened to introduce water upstream of the junction 50 in the circulation line 3 into the tank 42 through the water supply line 7. In addition, when the ore charging valve 46v is opened, the inside of the tank 42 is connected to the inside of the circulation line 3 through the ore charging line 46a and the junction 50. This makes the pressure in the tank 42 equal to the pressure in the circulation line 3, and the ore can be smoothly charged into the circulation line 3.

[0061] In the above embodiment, in a configuration in which a plurality of tank units 41 each having a tank 42, a delivery unit 46, and a drainage line 44 are provided, the ore collected by the ore collector 61 is supplied to the plurality of tank units 41 by the ore supply unit 6. The ore supply unit 6 is provided with a supply destination switching unit 63 that switches the supply destination of the ore collected by the ore collector 61 between the plurality of tank units 41. In the supply destination switching unit 63, the ore collected by the ore collector 61 is selectively input into one of the plurality of input spaces 64s by the input mechanism 65 for the main body 64 having a plurality of input spaces 64s. The ore input into each of the plurality of input spaces 64s is supplied to each of the tanks 42 of the plurality of tank units 41 through the discharge port 66 and the connection line 68. In this way, the supply destination switching unit 63 distributes the ore collected by the ore collector 61 to multiple input spaces 64s, so that the ore can be smoothly supplied to multiple tank sections 41 from a discharge outlet 66 having an opening communicating with each input space 64s.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the bypass line 8 is provided so that the water flowing through the circulation line 3 can be made to bypass the junction 50. This makes it possible to prevent the flow of water through the circulation line 3 from being stopped, for example, when a malfunction or the like occurs at the junction 50.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the ore discharge unit 9 is connected to the lower end of the vertical extension unit 32s that extends in the vertical direction and is provided downstream of the confluence unit 50. As a result, if the flow of water in the circulation line 3 stops for some reason, the ore discharge unit 9 can discharge the water and ore in the vertical extension unit 32s downward. Since the vertical extension unit 32s extends vertically, the water and ore in the vertical extension unit 32s are easily discharged downward by gravity from the ore discharge unit 9 connected to the lower end of the vertical extension unit 32s.

[0064] In the above embodiment, in the confluence section 50, the ore discharged from the discharge section 46 and charged into the container section 51 from the ore charging port 53 merges with the water flowing through the circulation line 3, which is introduced into the container section 51 from the water inlet 54. The water inlet 54 is connected to the container section 51 so that a swirling flow around the vertical axis is generated inside the container section 51. As a result, the water and ore that have merged in the container section 51 are well agitated by the swirling flow around the vertical axis and are sent out to the circulation line 3. As a result, clogging of the ore in the circulation line 3 is suppressed, and the ore can be efficiently sent out.

[0065] In the above embodiment, in the confluence 50, the ore discharged from the delivery section 46 and charged into the container section 51 from the ore inlet 53 is merged with the water flowing through the circulation line 3, which is introduced into the container section 51 from the water inlet 54. At this time, the attachment position of the water inlet 54 relative to the container section 51 is devised, so that the water and ore that have merged in the container section 51 are well agitated by a swirling flow around a vertical axis and sent to the circulation line 3. In addition, the confluence 50 has a cylindrical section 51a with a large diameter in order to secure a space for agitating the ore from the delivery section 46 and the water from the forward pipe 31, while the return pipe 32, which requires a high flow rate in the pipe, has a diameter sufficiently smaller than that of the cylindrical section 51A. Between the cylindrical section 51a and the return pipe 32, a reduced diameter section 51b is formed, the inner surface of which gradually decreases in diameter from the top to the bottom. Therefore, the ore is kept dispersed and guided to the return pipe 32 without stagnation and in a smooth flow. This prevents the diameter from being suddenly narrowed at the connection between the cylindrical portion 51a and the return pipe 32, causing the ore to stagnate and cause a blockage. As a result, clogging of the ore in the circulation line 3 is prevented, and the ore can be efficiently sent out.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the amount of ore discharged from the tank 42 to the delivery section 46 can be quantified by the delivery device 45. This can prevent the ore from clogging the piping of the delivery section 46 and the like, thereby contributing to improving productivity.

[0067] In the above embodiment, when the ore stored in the tank 42 is discharged from the tank 42, water upstream of the junction 50 in the circulation line 3 is introduced into the tank 42. This makes the pressure in the tank 42 equal to the pressure in the circulation line 3. Therefore, the ore can be smoothly charged into the circulation line 3 at the bottom B.

[0068] (Modification of the embodiment) In the above embodiment, the configuration of the confluence section 50 has been described. However, as long as the ore can be agitated in the container section 51, the configuration may be changed as appropriate. (First Modification of the Embodiment) For example, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, the water inlet 54B of the confluence section 50B of the first modified example may extend radially from the outer circumferential surface of the tubular section 51a toward the radially outward direction, centered on the vertical axis Cv, when viewed from the direction of the vertical axis Cv. In this case, the formation of the reduced diameter section 51b at the bottom of the container section 51 generates turbulence at the bottom of the container section 51, and the slurry containing water and ore is well stirred and sent out from the discharge port 55 to the return pipe 32. Furthermore, the formation of the reduced diameter section 51b allows the ore to be kept in a diffused state and the diameter to be reduced while maintaining a smooth flow without stagnation of the ore, as in the above embodiment, so that it is possible to prevent the diameter from being suddenly narrowed at the connection section between the cylindrical section 51a and the return pipe 32, causing the ore to stagnate and causing a blockage.

[0069] (Second Modification of the Embodiment) 15 and 16, the water inlet 54C of the junction 50C of the second modified example extends radially from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 51a toward the outside in the radial direction, centered on the vertical axis Cv, when viewed from the direction of the vertical axis Cv. Furthermore, the water inlet 54C may be provided at an angle from the bottom to the top so as to be spaced radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 51a when viewed from the outside in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 51a. Even in this case, since the reduced diameter section 51b is formed at the bottom of the container section 51, turbulence is generated at the bottom of the container section 51, and the slurry containing the ore and water is well stirred and sent from the discharge port 55 to the return pipe 32, as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, since the reduced diameter section 51b is formed, the ore can be kept in a diffused state and the diameter can be reduced while the ore flows smoothly without stagnating, as in the above embodiment, so that it is possible to prevent the diameter from being suddenly narrowed at the connection section between the cylindrical section 51a and the return pipe 32, causing the ore to stagnate and causing a blockage.

[0070] (Third Modification of the Embodiment) As shown in Figs. 17 and 18, a confluence section 50D of the third modified example includes a container section 51D, an ore inlet 53, a water inlet 54, and a discharge outlet 55D.

[0071] The container portion 51D is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. The water inlet 54 is connected to the container 51D so as to generate a swirling flow around the vertical axis Cv inside the container 51D. The water inlet 54 of this third modified example is disposed at the upper end of the container 51D, radially outward of the container 51D with respect to the vertical axis Cv located at the center of the container 51D. The water inlet 54 is connected to the outer circumferential surface of the container 51D. The water inlet 54 extends in the tangential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the container 51D.

[0072] The outlet 55D is disposed at the lower end of the reduced diameter portion 51b, radially outward of the container portion 51D with respect to the vertical axis Cv. The outlet 55D is connected to the outer circumferential surface of the container portion 51D. The outlet 55D extends in the tangential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the container portion 51D along the swirling flow in the container portion 51D.

[0073] In the confluence 50D, the water inlet 54 is provided so as to generate a swirling flow around the vertical axis Cv inside the vessel 51D, so that the slurry containing the ore and water is well stirred. The stirred slurry is sent out to the return pipe 32 from the discharge port 55D connected to the bottom of the vessel 51D.

[0074] (Other embodiments) The above describes in detail the embodiments and modified examples of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments and modified examples, and also include design changes and the like within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure. In the ore input method 10 of the above embodiment, the step S11 of storing the ore in the tank, the step S12 of waiting, and the step S13 of merging the ore in the tank with the water in the circulation line are performed in the tank units 41A to 41C at different times so as not to overlap with each other, but this is not limited to this. For example, first, the step S11 of storing the ore in the tank is sequentially performed for the tank units 41A and 41B, and a predetermined amount of ore is stored in both the tank units 41A and 41B. After that, the remaining tank unit 41C may perform the step S11 of storing the ore in the tank, while the tank unit 41A may perform the step S13 of merging the ore in the tank with the water in the circulation line.

[0075] <Additional Notes> The ore charging equipment 4, the ore recovery system 1, and the ore charging method 10 described in the embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0076] (1) The ore input equipment 4 of the first embodiment is an ore input equipment 4 that inputs ore into a circulation line 3 that circulates water between an ore recovery section 2 arranged above the water and the bottom of the water B, and is equipped with an ore supply section 6 capable of supplying ore mined at the bottom of the water B, an input device 5 having an ore supply section 6 capable of supplying ore mined at the bottom of the water B, a tank 42 capable of storing the ore supplied from the ore supply section 6, a discharge section 46 capable of discharging the ore from inside the tank 42, a junction section 50 that merges the ore discharged from the tank 42 with the water in the circulation line 3, and a drainage line 44 capable of discharging a portion of the water inside the tank 42 to the outside of the tank 42, and a water supply line 7 that can introduce water upstream of the junction section 50 in the circulation line 3 into the inside of the tank 42.

[0077] In the ore charging equipment 4, the ore mined at the bottom B is supplied to the inside of the tank 42 by the ore supply unit 6. The ore stored in the tank 42 is discharged from the tank 42 by the discharge unit 46 and merged into the circulation line 3 by the junction unit 50. Water upstream of the junction unit 50 in the circulation line 3 is introduced into the tank 42 by the water supply line 7. When the ore stored in the tank 42 is discharged from the tank 42 by the discharge unit 46, water upstream of the junction unit 50 in the circulation line 3 is introduced into the tank 42 by the water supply line 7, so that the pressure in the tank 42 becomes equal to the pressure in the circulation line 3. Therefore, the ore can be smoothly charged into the circulation line 3 at the bottom B.

[0078] (2) The ore feeding equipment 4 of the second embodiment is the ore feeding equipment 4 of (1), and includes a supply on-off valve 72v that opens and closes the water supply line 7, an ore feeding line 46a that feeds the ore discharged from the tank 42 into the confluence 50, and an ore feeding valve 46v that opens and closes the ore feeding line 46a.

[0079] According to this configuration, the ore charging equipment 4 includes the supply on-off valve 72v, the ore charging line 46a, and the ore charging valve 46v. When the ore stored in the tank 42 is discharged from the tank 42 by the discharge unit 46, the supply on-off valve 72v is opened, and water upstream of the junction 50 in the circulation line 3 is introduced into the tank 42 through the water supply line 7. In addition, when the ore charging valve 46v is opened, the inside of the tank 42 is connected to the inside of the circulation line 3 through the ore charging line 46a and the junction 50. As a result, the pressure in the tank 42 becomes equal to the pressure in the circulation line 3, and the ore can be smoothly charged into the circulation line 3.

[0080] (3) The ore input equipment 4 of the third aspect is the ore input equipment 4 of (1) or (2), which is provided with multiple sets of tank sections 41 each having the tank 42, the discharge section 46, and the drainage line 44, and the ore supply section 6 is provided with a supply destination switching section 63 that switches the supply destination of the mined ore between the multiple sets of tank sections 41, and the supply destination switching section 63 is provided with a main body 64 having multiple input spaces 64s into which the mined ore is input, a input mechanism 65 that selectively inputs the mined ore into one of the multiple input spaces 64s, multiple discharge outlets 66 communicating with each of the input spaces 64s, and multiple connection lines 68 connecting the multiple discharge outlets 66 to each of the multiple sets of tank sections 41.

[0081] As a result, in a configuration in which a plurality of tank units 41 each having a tank 42, a delivery unit 46, and a drainage line 44 are provided, the mined ore is supplied to the plurality of tank units 41 by the ore supply unit 6. The ore supply unit 6 is provided with a supply destination switching unit 63 that switches the supply destination of the mined ore between the plurality of tank units 41. In the supply destination switching unit 63, the mined ore is selectively input into one of the plurality of input spaces 64s by the input mechanism 65 into the main body 64 having a plurality of input spaces 64s. The ore input into each of the plurality of input spaces 64s is supplied to each of the tanks 42 of the plurality of tank units 41 through the discharge port 66 and the connection line 68. In this way, in the supply destination switching unit 63, if the mined ore is distributed to the plurality of input spaces 64s, the ore can be smoothly supplied to the plurality of tank units 41 from the discharge port 66 having an opening communicating with each input space 64s.

[0082] (4) The ore feeding equipment 4 of the fourth aspect is any one of the ore feeding equipment 4 of (1) to (3), and includes a bypass line 8 arranged from the circulation line 3 to bypass the confluence 50, and a bypass valve 81v for opening and closing the bypass line 8.

[0083] According to this configuration, by providing the bypass line 8, the water flowing through the circulation line 3 can be made to bypass the junction 50. This makes it possible to prevent the flow of water through the circulation line 3 from being stopped, for example, when a malfunction or the like occurs at the junction 50.

[0084] (5) The ore feeding equipment 4 of the fifth aspect is any one of the ore feeding equipment 4 of (1) to (4), wherein the circulation line 3 has an upper and lower extension section 32s extending in the vertical direction downstream of the confluence 50, and further has an ore discharge section 9 connected to the lower end of the upper and lower extension section 32s and capable of discharging the water and ore in the upper and lower extension section 32s downward.

[0085] According to this configuration, the ore discharge unit 9 is connected to the lower end of the vertical extension unit 32s that extends in the vertical direction and is provided downstream of the junction 50. As a result, if the flow of water in the circulation line 3 stops for some reason, the ore discharge unit 9 can discharge the water and ore in the vertical extension unit 32s downward. Since the vertical extension unit 32s extends vertically, the water and ore in the vertical extension unit 32s are easily discharged downward by gravity from the ore discharge unit 9 connected to the lower end of the vertical extension unit 32s.

[0086] (6) The ore feeding equipment 4 of the sixth aspect is any one of the ore feeding equipment 4 of (1) to (5), wherein the confluence section 50 includes a container section 51, an ore feeding inlet 53 for feeding the ore discharged from the discharge section 46 into the container section 51, and a water inlet 54 for introducing water flowing through the circulation line 3 into the container section 51, and the water inlet 54 is connected to the container section 51 so as to generate a swirling flow around a vertical axis inside the container section 51.

[0087] According to this configuration, in the confluence section 50, the ore discharged from the discharge section 46 and charged into the container section 51 from the ore charging port 53 merges with the water flowing through the circulation line 3, which is introduced into the container section 51 from the water inlet 54. The water inlet 54 is connected to the container section 51 so that a swirling flow around the vertical axis is generated inside the container section 51. As a result, the water and ore that have merged in the container section 51 are well agitated by the swirling flow around the vertical axis and are sent out to the circulation line 3. As a result, clogging of the ore in the circulation line 3 is suppressed, and the ore can be efficiently sent out.

[0088] (7) The ore feeding equipment 4 of the seventh aspect is any one of the ore feeding equipment 4 of (1) to (6), wherein the confluence section 50 includes a container section 51, an ore feeding inlet 53 for feeding the ore discharged from the discharge section 46 into the container section 51, and a water inlet 54 for introducing water flowing through the circulation line 3 into the container section 51, and the container section 51 has a tapered section 51b at the lower part of the container section 51, the inner surface of which gradually narrows from top to bottom.

[0089] According to this configuration, in the confluence 50, the ore discharged from the discharge section 46 and charged into the container section 51 from the ore inlet 53 merges with the water flowing through the circulation line 3 and introduced into the container section 51 from the water inlet 54. A diameter-reducing section 51b is formed at the bottom of the container section 51, the inner surface of which gradually decreases in diameter from top to bottom. This allows the ore to remain dispersed and to be guided to the return pipe 32 in a smooth flow without stagnation. This prevents the ore from stagnation and blockage caused by a sudden narrowing of the diameter at the connection between the cylindrical section 51a and the return pipe 32, and allows the ore to be efficiently discharged.

[0090] (8) The ore feeding equipment 4 of the eighth aspect is any one of the ore feeding equipment 4 of (1) to (7), and further includes a discharge device 45 that adjusts the amount of the ore discharged from inside the tank 42 to the delivery section 46.

[0091] According to this configuration, the amount of ore discharged from the tank 42 to the delivery section 46 can be quantified by the delivery device 45. This makes it possible to prevent the ore from clogging the piping of the delivery section 46, thereby contributing to improving productivity.

[0092] (9) The ore recovery system 1 of the ninth aspect comprises an ore recovery unit 2 arranged on water, any one of the ore feeding equipment 4 of (1) to (8), and a circulation line 3 that circulates water between the ore recovery unit 2 and the confluence 50 of the ore feeding equipment 4. This makes it possible to provide the ore recovery system 1 equipped with the ore charging equipment 4 that can smoothly charge the ore into the circulation line 3 at the bottom B of the water.

[0093] (10) The ore input method 10 according to the tenth aspect is the ore input method 10 in any one of the ore input facilities 4 of (1) to (9), and includes a step S11 of storing ore mined at the bottom B inside a tank 42, and a step S13 of sending the ore from inside the tank 42 to the junction 50 while introducing water upstream of the junction 50 in the circulation line 3 into the tank 42, and merging the ore with the water in the circulation line 3. Thereby, when the ore stored inside the tank 42 is discharged from the tank 42, the water upstream of the junction 50 in the circulation line 3 is introduced into the tank 42. As a result, the pressure in the tank 42 becomes equal to the pressure in the circulation line 3. Therefore, at the bottom B, the ore can be smoothly charged into the circulation line 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 1...Ore recovery system 2...Ore recovery section 3...Circulation line 4...Ore charging equipment 5...Charging device 6...Ore supply section 7...Water supply line 8...Bypass line 9...Ore discharge section 20...Mother ship 21...Pump 22...Dewatering device 25...Control room 31...Forward piping 31b...Downstream end 32...Return piping 32a...Upstream end 32s...Upper and lower extension section 41, 41A to 41C...Tank section 42...Tank 42b...Bottom section 44...Drainage line 44a...Drainage pipe 44v...Drainage valve 45...Discharge device 45s...Impeller 46...Sending section 46a...Ore charging line 46v...Ore charging valve 50, 50B to 50D...Confluence section 51, 51D...Container section 51a...Cylindrical section 51b...Narrowing section 53...Ore inlet 54, 54B, 54C...Water inlet 55, 55D...Discharge outlet 61...Ore collector 62...Ore supply line 63...Supply switching section 64...Main body 64s...Inlet space 65...Inlet mechanism 65m...Movable pipe 66...Discharge outlet 68...Connection line 68v...Ore supply valve 71...Main pipe 71a...One end 72...Branch pipe 72v...Supply on-off valve 81...Bypass pipe 81a...One end 81b...Other end 81v...Bypass valve 91...Ore discharge line 91v...Ore discharge valve B...Bottom of water Ws...Above water Cv...Vertical axis S10...Ore input method S11...Process of storing ore inside the tank S12...Waiting process S13...Process of merging the ore inside the tank with the water in the circulation line

Claims

1. An ore charging facility that charges ore into a circulation line that circulates water between an ore recovery unit disposed above water and a bottom of the water, an ore supply unit capable of supplying ore mined at the bottom of the water; a charging device having a tank capable of storing the ore supplied from the ore supply unit therein, a delivery unit capable of delivering the ore from inside the tank, a merging unit that merges the ore delivered from the tank with the water in the circulation line, and a drainage line that can discharge a portion of the water inside the tank to the outside of the tank; a water supply line capable of introducing water upstream of the junction in the circulation line into the tank; Ore feeding facility equipped with

2. a supply on-off valve that opens and closes the water supply line; an ore injection line that injects the ore discharged from the tank into the junction; an ore charging valve for opening and closing the ore charging line; The ore input facility of claim 1 .

3. A plurality of tank units each having the tank, the delivery unit, and the drain line are provided, The ore supply unit includes: a supply destination switching unit that switches the supply destination of the mined ore between the plurality of tank units, The supply destination switching unit is A main body having a plurality of input spaces into which mined ores are input; a charging mechanism that selectively charges mined ore into one of the plurality of charging spaces; A plurality of discharge ports each communicating with the input space; a plurality of connection lines connecting the plurality of outlets to each of the plurality of sets of the tank portions; The ore charging facility according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

4. A bypass line provided from the circulation line to bypass the junction; a bypass valve that opens and closes the bypass line; The ore charging facility according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

5. The circulation line includes: A vertical extension portion extending in a vertical direction downstream of the confluence portion, Further comprising an ore discharge part connected to a lower end part of the vertical extension part and capable of discharging water and ore in the vertical extension part downward. The ore charging facility according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The confluence portion is A container portion; an ore inlet for injecting the ore delivered from the delivery section into the container section; a water inlet for introducing water flowing through the circulation line into the container portion, The water inlet is connected to the container so as to generate a swirling flow around a vertical axis inside the container. The ore charging facility according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The confluence portion is A container portion; an ore inlet for injecting the ore delivered from the delivery section into the container section; a water inlet for introducing water flowing through the circulation line into the container portion, The container portion has a tapered portion at a lower portion of the container portion, the inner surface of which gradually tapers from top to bottom. The ore charging facility according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The ore extractor further includes a discharge device that is provided with a rotatable impeller and that adjusts the amount of the ore that is discharged from the inside of the tank to the delivery section. The ore charging facility according to claim 1 or 2.

9. an ore recovery unit disposed on the water; The ore charging facility according to claim 1 or 2; a circulation line for circulating water between the ore recovery section and the confluence section of the ore charging facility. Ore recovery system.

10. 3. The ore charging method in the ore charging facility according to claim 1 or 2, storing the ore extracted from the bottom of the water inside a tank; and a step of introducing water upstream of the junction in the circulation line into the tank while sending ore from the inside of the tank to the junction, and merging the ore with the water in the circulation line. Ore input method.

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