Hydraulic Pickup Head Sediment Plume Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seafloor nodule mining methods result in significant sediment discharge, creating environmental concerns due to the dispersal of sediment and water plumes that can affect seabed fauna, necessitating a reduction in sediment concentration for efficient mineral recovery and environmental mitigation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a hydraulic pickup head system with a diffuser and gravity separator, coupled with an electrocoagulator, to minimize sediment entry into the lift system and enhance nodule concentration, utilizing Coanda flow principles and electrocoagulation to separate and settle sediment particles effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a hydraulic pickup head collects nodules with high efficiency, then nodule recovery is improved, but sediment discharge increases creating environmental harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes sediment particles from the nodule slurry using a screen classifier system. The classifier separates fine sediment particles from coarser nodules, allowing the sediment to be discharged separately while maintaining high nodule recovery efficiency. This directly addresses the contradiction by removing the harmful sediment component while preserving the beneficial nodule collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sediment removal system between the pickup head and the final discharge point. The screen classifier acts as an intermediary device that processes the slurry, separating nodules from sediment before final handling. This intermediary system enables high-efficiency nodule recovery while mitigating sediment discharge environmental impact.
2Productivity
If water and sediment are discharged close to the seabed, then discharge efficiency is improved, but plume dispersion affects larger seabed area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes a significant portion of the sediment from the discharge stream using screen classifiers. By removing fine sediment particles before discharge, the volume of material creating plumes is reduced, thereby decreasing the affected seabed area while maintaining efficient discharge operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the composition and concentration parameters of the discharged slurry by removing fine sediment through classification. This parameter change reduces the plume-forming capacity of the discharge, minimizing seabed area affected while preserving discharge efficiency for the necessary waste water and coarser materials.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sediment concentration in slurry is reduced, then environmental impact is minimized, but nodule recovery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the slurry processing into distinct stages: initial high-concentration collection by the pickup head, followed by sediment removal through screen classifiers, and final controlled discharge. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high nodule recovery efficiency in the collection stage and minimized environmental impact in the discharge stage by removing excess sediment separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous operation of the pickup head at optimal high concentration for maximum nodule recovery, while simultaneously operating screen classifiers to continuously remove sediment from the slurry stream. This continuous dual-action approach ensures both high productivity and environmental protection are achieved without interrupting the useful nodule collection action.
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 approach significantly reduces sediment discharge, allowing for controlled nodule concentration and minimizing environmental impact by effectively separating and settling sediment, thereby optimizing the mineral recovery process and reducing seabed disturbance.
Implementation Method 1
a diffuser, to reduce slurry velocity to an inlet of a separator
Implementation Method 2
gravity separator
Implementation Method 3
electrocoagulator
Implementation Method 4
pickup nozzle is adapted to remove material from the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for generating a slurry from the surface of the subsea floor, separating that slurry into multiple slurries, and pumping the desired slurry to the surface.