Cluster Deep-Sea Mining Collectors Using Vortex Hydrodynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing submarine mining equipment faces limitations in mining scope, controllability, and collection capacity due to integrated structures, which restricts movement and increases the risk of collisions and damage, while insufficient detection of underwater terrain affects path guidance and obstacle avoidance.
Innovation Solution
The cluster-type deep-sea submarine mining equipment features adaptive mining collectors with tracked mechanisms, adjustable mineral delivery pipes, and an underwater detector for navigation, enabling independent movement and improved collection efficiency while avoiding obstacles, and utilizing vortex hydrodynamic characteristics to enhance collection capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the equipment uses an integrated structure of mining collectors and equipment body, then the structure is simple, but the traveling path is restricted and mining scope is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mining equipment is divided into independent mining collectors and equipment body, connected through adjustable mineral delivery pipes. Each mining collector can move autonomously on the seabed, while the equipment body remains relatively stationary, enabling the collectors to access rough terrain and expand mining scope without complicating the overall structure.
2Productivity
If the equipment increases traveling speed to ensure mining efficiency, then productivity improves, but controllability and reliability are affected
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the mining function into independent collectors, each collector operates at low speed near the seabed, ensuring high controllability and reliability. The overall mining efficiency is maintained through parallel operation of multiple collectors rather than relying on high-speed movement of a single integrated unit.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the mining collectors are integrated with the equipment body, then the structure is stable, but the collectors collide with obstacles and may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
Mining collectors are designed as independent, separable units that can autonomously navigate the seabed terrain. When obstacles are detected, collectors can independently adjust their positions or retract, preventing collision damage while the stable equipment body remains stationary or moves slowly.
Solution Approach 2:
The mining collectors are equipped with autonomous navigation and obstacle detection capabilities, allowing them to dynamically adjust their movement and positioning in real-time to avoid obstacles, while the equipment body maintains structural stability.
4Device complexity
If the equipment uses traditional mining collectors, then the structure is simple, but the collection capacity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The mining collectors utilize hydrodynamic vortexes generated by water flow to enhance mineral particle separation and collection. Water jets create rotating vortex patterns that concentrate mineral particles toward the collection inlet, significantly improving collection capacity without requiring complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The collectors employ adjustable water flow parameters (velocity, direction, intensity) to optimize vortex formation and mineral particle trajectory, enhancing collection efficiency through fluid dynamic control rather than mechanical complexity.
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
This design enhances movement flexibility, reduces equipment speed for improved controllability, increases collection capacity, and reduces environmental impact by allowing adaptive operation and efficient mineral extraction with reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of guide plates 23 are disposed around the interior of each adaptive submarine mining collector 10. At least two adjacent guide plates of each adaptive submarine mining collector 10 are provided with a water spray head 22 therebetween. The water spray heads spray clear water to generate vortexes in the adaptive submarine mining collectors 10
Data Source
AI summary
A piece of submarine mining equipment comprises an equipment body, a plurality of adaptive submarine mining collectors and respective mineral delivery pipes. The equipment body and the adaptive submarine mining collectors are connected through the mineral delivery pipes. The lengths, stretching out of the equipment body, of the mineral delivery pipes can be adjusted under control. The adaptive submarine mining collectors are provided with tracked traveling mechanisms and can autonomously travel under control. An underwater detector is used for detecting the submarine topography and mineral distribution in the vicinity of an operation area, and the traveling path of the submarine mining collectors and a mineral storage vehicle is reasonably planned according to detected information. The multiple adaptive submarine mining collectors simultaneously and independently work and are made light and small, thus reducing damage of mining operations to the submarine ecological environment. The equipment body can travel along flat submarine paths and avoid rough paths. Horizontal vortexes induced by the mining collectors can enhance the mining effect and improve the collecting power under unit power consumption so that fewer water pumps with smaller sizes can be configured, and the mining collectors have a smaller principle dimension, thereby greatly reducing energy consumption and being more environmentally friendly.