Distributed Seabed Nodule Collection With Low-Sediment Disturbance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seabed mining systems disrupt the marine environment by displacing large amounts of sediment and altering water salinity, causing significant ecological damage.
Innovation Solution
A seabed mining system utilizing a tether with distributed collector units that collect minerals without disrupting the marine environment, employing a combination of polymer tether, fishing, and dredging rigging technologies, along with unpressured remotely operated underwater vehicle electronics, to minimize environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional auto-propelled dredging equipment is used to extract minerals from the seabed, then mineral extraction capability is improved, but environmental harm increases due to displacement of large amounts of sediment and changes in water salinity
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the continuous dredging operation into discrete collection events using multiple independently operated collector units distributed along the tether. Each collector unit operates autonomously to collect nodules from a specific location, replacing the continuous disruptive dredging process with segmented, controlled collection actions that minimize overall environmental disturbance.
Solution Approach 2:
The collector units are designed to interact with only the local seabed area where nodules are present, rather than disrupting large volumes of sediment across broad areas. The collection mechanism targets specific nodule locations while leaving surrounding sediment undisturbed, applying force and movement only where mineral extraction is needed.
2Productivity
If conventional dredging equipment is used, then mineral collection efficiency is improved, but sediment displacement increases causing ecological damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the desired mineral nodules from the seabed while leaving the surrounding sediment in place. The collector units are designed to pick up nodules individually or in small groups without mobilizing large volumes of sediment, thereby separating the extraction of valuable minerals from the harmful displacement of environmental material.
Solution Approach 2:
The collector units employ dynamic arms that can extend, retract, and adjust their position to adapt to varying seabed conditions and nodule locations. This dynamic operation allows efficient nodule collection while minimizing contact with and displacement of sediment, as the arms can precisely target nodules without requiring broad-area disturbance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If distributed collector units on a tether are used to minimize environmental impact, then environmental disruption is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collector units are designed as universal, multi-functional components that can perform multiple operations: collecting nodules, storing them in onboard containers, and being retrieved along the tether. Each collector unit serves as a self-contained system with integrated collection and storage functions, reducing the need for additional specialized components and simplifying the overall system architecture despite the distributed configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a nested structure where collector units with storage containers are attached to the tether, which itself is attached to the vessel. The collector units can be stowed within or along the tether when not in use, and multiple collectors are distributed along the same tether structure. This nesting approach allows the complex distributed system to be compactly stored and deployed from a single vessel without requiring proportionally complex deployment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed seabed mining system and method may be used in marine excavation, i.e., extraction/mining of minerals buried under the seabed. The seabed mining system may be mounted or placed on board an ocean vessel, such as a cargo ship, or a collector ship. The system may include a tether with a distributed collection unit, configured to collect the minerals beneath the seabed without disrupting marine environment.