Submarine Hydrate Mining Device with Spiral Bit and Decomposition Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack an efficient and economical method for exploiting massive natural gas hydrates in shallow sea areas, particularly in submarine mud volcanoes, pits, and hydrate hills, where unique environmental conditions pose challenges for effective extraction.
Innovation Solution
A submarine shallow hydrate exploitation device comprising an exploitation unit with a submarine ship, drain chamber, spiral bit, crusher, and decomposition tank, which mines, crushes, and lifts hydrates to a shallow marine hydrate decomposition station for phase equilibrium disruption and decomposition, aided by auxiliary heating for enhanced efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If drilling approach with high-pressure water flow is used to crush hydrates, then hydrates can be exploited, but the method is only suitable for hydrates within certain depth and lacks efficiency for massive hydrates in shallow sea areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the exploitation parameters by transitioning from high-pressure water flow (drilling method) to mechanical crushing followed by natural decomposition. The decomposition process utilizes natural temperature and pressure conditions in shallow sea areas, changing the physical parameters from requiring high pressure to utilizing low pressure and ambient temperature for effective hydrate decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The exploitation system is segmented into distinct functional modules: exploitation units with spiral bits for mining, crushers for size reduction, lifting devices for retrieval, and decomposition tanks for gas release. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and enables flexible deployment configurations for different hydrate deposit types.
2Productivity
If hydrates are decomposed in situ on the seabed, then exploitation can proceed, but geological disasters such as landslides and collapses may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the decomposition process from the in-situ seabed environment and relocates it to decomposition tanks on the seabed or surface vessels. By removing hydrates from their original geological context before decomposition, the system prevents direct disturbance of the seabed structure, thereby eliminating the risk of triggering landslides and collapses while maintaining continuous exploitation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The decomposition tank serves as an intermediary container between the mining operation and the decomposition process. This intermediary structure allows controlled decomposition of hydrates away from the vulnerable seabed, mediating between the need for continuous exploitation and the prevention of geological disasters by providing a safe containment environment for gas release.
3Productivity
If multiple exploitation units are deployed to increase productivity, then more hydrates can be mined, but the complexity of coordination and control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exploitation units are designed as universal, modular components that can perform all essential functions (mining, drying, crushing, lifting) independently. This multi-functionality within each unit simplifies coordination between multiple units, as they operate autonomously with standardized interfaces, reducing overall system complexity while enabling scalable deployment for massive hydrate exploitation.
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
Enables high-efficiency, economical, and environmentally friendly exploitation of submarine shallow hydrates, preventing geological disasters through controlled decomposition and gas recovery, with multiple vehicles operating synchronously for increased productivity.
Implementation Method 1
the crushed hydrates are lifted by a lifting device to a hydrate decomposition station and are heated
Implementation Method 2
the hydrates are promoted to be decomposed by means of changes to the phase equilibrium conditions of the hydrates
Implementation Method 3
the hydrates are promoted to be decomposed by means of changes to the phase equilibrium conditions of the hydrates
Data Source
AI summary
A submarine shallow hydrate exploitation device, including an exploitation unit and a collection unit. The exploitation unit includes: a submarine ship working on a seabed; a drain chamber arranged on the submarine ship, wherein a pressure valve is arranged at a top of the drain chamber, one-way drain holes are formed in a bottom of the drain chamber, and water from massive hydrates is controlled to be discharged out of the drain chamber; a high-speed spiral bit configured to mine and convey sediments; a rotary ring arranged at an inlet end of the drain chamber and configured to connect the drain chamber with the high-speed spiral bit to provide rotation power for the high-speed spiral bit; a steering arm arranged on the submarine ship and configured to realize a rotation of the high-speed spiral bit; a crusher arranged on the submarine ship and configured to crush dried massive hydrates.