Seabed Mining Separator Reduces Pump Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for extracting solid materials from water bodies, such as seabed mining operations, face issues with premature wear of pumps due to solid material passage, leading to frequent replacements and interruptions in production.
Innovation Solution
A device with a separator system that processes the collection stream to separate solid material from liquid, using a flexible hose and intermediate pipe to direct the high-solid-content stream through the riser, reducing pump wear by using pressurized water to lift the solid material to the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pump is used to pump the collection stream containing solid material, then the solid material can be lifted towards the surface facility, but the pump components experience premature wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the solid material from the collection stream before it enters the pump. A separator device removes solid particles from the liquid stream, allowing the pump to handle only liquid water. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating solid material contact with pump components while maintaining the pump's ability to lift material to the surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator acts as an intermediary between the collection stream and the pump. It mediates by separating the harmful solid material from the beneficial liquid stream, allowing the pump to perform its lifting function without exposure to abrasive solids. This intermediary device protects the pump while maintaining system productivity.
2Productivity
If the pump frequently processes solid material, then material extraction continues, but pump replacement requires complicated operations at depth or production interruption
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting solid material before pump entry, the invention eliminates the need for frequent pump replacements. The separator ensures the pump only handles clean liquid, preventing wear and tear that would otherwise require complex underwater repairs or production interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator performs preliminary action by removing solid material before it reaches the pump. This pre-treatment prevents the accumulation of wear that would lead to pump failure, thereby avoiding the need for complicated repair operations or production interruptions.
3Productivity
If solid material is pumped directly through the riser, then material transport to surface is achieved, but internal wear of the pipe carrying the material increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separator extracts solid material from the liquid stream before it enters the riser pipe. This allows the riser to transport only liquid water, eliminating internal wear from solid material contact while maintaining efficient material transport to the surface through the separated stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator serves as an intermediary that protects the riser pipe from solid material. By separating solids from liquids before riser entry, it mediates between the need for material transport and the need to prevent pipe wear, allowing continuous operation without pipe replacement.
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 solution enhances the reliability of solid material extraction, minimizes internal pipe wear, and allows continuous production by avoiding direct pumping of solids, thus extending pump lifespan and simplifying maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a separator, to be used for processing the collection stream received from the collection assembly in order to form a stream having a high content of solid material and a stream having a low content of solid material
Implementation Method 2
a pump capable of pumping a liquid, designed for lifting the solid material collected by the collection assembly in the riser towards the surface facility
Data Source
AI summary
The device of the disclosure comprises an assembly (22) for collecting material on the bed (12) of a body of water (14), a riser (48) for lifting the solid material, and a pump (90) for lifting the solid material collected by the collection assembly (22) in the riser (48) towards the surface facility (26). The device also comprises a separator (42) for generating a stream having a high content of solid material and a stream having a low content of solid material, the separator (42) including a lower outlet (76) for discharging the stream with high content of solid material. The device comprises an upstream hose (40) connecting the collection assembly (22) to the separator (42), and an intermediate pipe (44) connecting the or each discharge outlet (76) of the stream with high content of solid material to the riser (48), the delivery outlet (100) of the pump being tapped into the intermediate pipe (44).