Deep Seafloor Mining Buffer System Pendulum Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing buffer systems for mining deep seafloor mineral resources lack the capability to store and transfer crushed minerals in a slurry state to a surface boat while preventing pendulum motion, which affects flow assurance and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A buffer system that includes a hopper part for storing crushed minerals, a feeder part with a screw mechanism, a hydraulic system for power conversion, and a structure frame to stabilize the system, along with a measurement control unit and propelling unit to manage mineral flow and prevent pendulum motion, ensuring efficient transfer of minerals to a surface boat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a buffer system is used to store and transfer crushed minerals, then flow assurance in lifting process is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer system is divided into distinct functional modules: a hopper part for storing crushed minerals, a feeder part for controlled discharge, and a lifting pipe for slurry transfer. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, ensuring flow assurance while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer system acts as an intermediary between the mining robot and the surface boat, storing crushed minerals temporarily and regulating their discharge rate. This intermediary function smooths out flow variations, ensuring consistent slurry delivery to the lifting pipe while isolating the upstream mining operations from downstream transfer requirements.
2Productivity
If a buffer system is coupled to the lifting pipe, then mineral transfer efficiency is improved, but pendulum motion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The structure frame is designed with counterbalancing elements that offset the pendulum motion generated by the coupled buffer system and lifting pipe. By incorporating counterweight mechanisms, the system neutralizes destabilizing forces while maintaining the efficient mineral transfer connection between the buffer and lifting pipe.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure frame incorporates damping and cushioning elements positioned strategically to absorb and mitigate pendulum motions before they can disrupt the mineral transfer process. This beforehand cushioning approach prevents instability from affecting productivity while maintaining the beneficial coupling between buffer system and lifting pipe.
3Productivity
If crushed minerals are introduced in large amounts, then productivity is improved, but flow assurance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder part is designed with dynamic control capabilities that adjust the discharge rate of crushed minerals based on real-time flow conditions. This dynamic regulation allows the system to handle large amounts of minerals for high productivity while automatically modulating the feed rate to maintain optimal slurry flow characteristics and prevent flow assurance issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor slurry flow conditions in the lifting pipe and adjust the feeder discharge rate accordingly. When flow assurance parameters indicate potential problems, the feedback loop reduces the mineral introduction rate, allowing the system to operate at high productivity levels while continuously maintaining reliable flow conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a buffer system for mining a deep seafloor mineral resource. The buffer system includes a hopper part that introduces and stores a crushed mineral resource to discharge the crushed mineral resource upward, a first pipe that communicates with an upper portion of the hopper part to introduce the mineral resource, a feeder part provided under the hopper part to discharge the mineral resources upward, a second pipe that communicates with the feeder part and lifts the mineral resource, a hydraulic part provided under the hopper part to convert power received from a surface boat into hydraulic power to operate at least one actuator and a driving motor to introduce the mineral resource into the first pipe, and a structure frame coupled to a lifting pipe to transmit an external load applied to the buffer system, and constituting an external frame of the buffer system to protect internal units.