Alternating Stepping Deep-Sea Mining Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deep-sea mining faces challenges such as instability in bad weather, high energy consumption, and difficulty in relocating platforms, which hinder efficient and safe mining operations.
Innovation Solution
An alternating stepping deep-sea mining system utilizing a clean energy platform with a mooring system, electric propulsion, and renewable energy sources, allowing for mobility, storm resistance, and energy efficiency, featuring a main hull with a workshop, mining vehicles, winches, anchor cables, and solar, wave, and wind power generation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional fixed offshore platforms are used for deep-sea mining, then stability is improved, but energy consumption increases and mobility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The platform transitions from a fixed static structure to a dynamic mobile structure. It can move between mining areas by controlling the winches to收放 anchor cables, allowing the platform to relocate without being permanently fixed to the seabed. This dynamic capability reduces energy consumption while maintaining operational stability during mining operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform serves multiple functions: it can remain fixed for stable mining operations, move to different mining areas, and adjust its position as needed. The winch system enables both anchoring and relocation functions, making the platform versatile and adaptable to different operational requirements without excessive energy consumption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional fixed offshore platforms are used for deep-sea mining, then stability is improved, but mobility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The platform employs a dynamic mooring system with winches that can actively adjust anchor cable lengths. This allows the platform to transition between fixed and mobile states, enabling movement to different mining areas while maintaining stability during operations. The system adapts to different operational phases seamlessly.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform is self-propelled and can relocate itself using its own winch system and anchor cables without requiring external assistance. It autonomously moves between mining areas by controlling the anchor heads, eliminating the need for transport vessels and enabling independent repositioning.
3Stability of the object's composition
If energy-consuming fixed systems are used, then platform stability is improved, but environmental friendliness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The platform utilizes natural forces (wind, waves, currents) for propulsion through its sailing rigging system, eliminating the need for fossil fuel-powered engines. This self-propulsion method significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution while maintaining the platform's ability to reach and position itself at mining locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform replaces traditional mechanical propulsion systems (engines, propellers) with a sailing-based mechanical system that harnesses natural wind energy. This substitution eliminates combustion processes and associated pollution, providing an environmentally friendly alternative that maintains operational effectiveness.
4Stability of the object's composition
If fixed platforms are used, then mining operation stability is improved, but preparation time for transport vessels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform performs its own transportation and positioning functions using its sailing rigging and winch system, eliminating the need for separate transport vessels. It can autonomously navigate to mining areas and position itself, significantly reducing the time required for vessel preparation and deployment while maintaining operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The transportation function is extracted from the separate transport vessel and integrated into the mining platform itself. The platform combines mining operations with self-propulsion capabilities, eliminating the need for dedicated transport vessels and reducing overall preparation time for mining operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables efficient and safe mining operations by alternating steps between seabed anchor points, reducing energy consumption, and utilizing renewable energy for power, improving mining rate and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
a solar power generation system arranged at the top of the main hull
Implementation Method 2
a wave power generation system arranged at the front end and the rear end of the main hull
Implementation Method 3
a wind power generation system arranged at the top of the main hull
Implementation Method 4
the electric propulsion apparatuses are arranged at the front end and the rear end of the bottom of the main hull
Implementation Method 5
the anchor head is a gravity anchor head
Data Source
AI summary
An alternating stepping deep-sea mining system and method based on a clean energy platform are provided. The platform comprises a main hull, a mining system, a mooring system and an electric propulsion apparatus. The middle of the main hull is provided with a workshop. The mining system comprises a plurality of mining vehicles, and the plurality of mining vehicles are placed in the workshop. The mooring system comprises winches, anchor cable cabins, anchor cables and anchor heads. The winches are arranged at four corners of the top of the main hull, the anchor cable cabin is arranged below each winch, and the anchor cable has one end connected to the winch and the other end connected to the anchor head. The electric propulsion apparatuses are arranged at the front end and the rear end of the bottom of the main hull.