Undersea Steering Vehicle for Nodule Mining Path Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seafloor nodule recovery systems face challenges such as the inability to maintain a desired path due to drag and vortex shedding, leading to reduced recovery rates and high operating costs associated with large surface vessels and heavy riser systems.
Innovation Solution
A seafloor nodule concentrating system that includes an undersea steering vehicle, connected to a surface vessel and a nodule collecting apparatus, which uses a position determination device to adjust the direction of the nodule mining apparatus, allowing it to follow a predetermined path and maintain efficient nodule collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a benthic sled is used to collect nodules from the seafloor, then nodules can be collected and communicated to the ore hoisting system, but the vehicle cannot maintain a desired path due to drag and vortex shedding, reducing recovery rate
Solution Approach 1:
An underwater steering vehicle is introduced as an intermediary between the surface vessel and the benthic sled. This mediator provides steering and position control capabilities that the original system lacked, enabling the sled to follow predetermined paths while maintaining collection efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a surface vessel for ore hoisting, an underwater steering vehicle for navigation and control, and a benthic sled for nodule collection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the steering vehicle handling path control and the sled handling collection
2Productivity
If a surface vessel with a long riser system is used to transport ore from the seafloor, then ore can be delivered to the surface, but the vessel size and operating costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The underwater steering vehicle acts as an intermediary that collects nodules along a predetermined path and communicates them to the surface vessel. This allows the use of a smaller surface vessel with a shorter riser system, as ore is delivered progressively along the path rather than requiring all ore to be hauled from a single deep-sea location
Solution Approach 2:
The underwater steering vehicle performs preliminary collection and concentration of nodules along the predetermined path before they are hoisted to the surface. This preliminary action reduces the total volume of material that needs to be transported by the surface vessel, allowing for a smaller vessel size
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 system effectively increases nodule recovery rates by maintaining a consistent path and reducing operational costs by allowing for more efficient nodule collection and transportation, enabling a larger volume of nodules to be collected per pass with a smaller surface vessel.
Implementation Method 1
a position determination device, which determines the position of the nodule collecting apparatus
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A nodule collecting apparatus 130 is disclosed comprising a support member 131 and two or more nodule collection devices 132. Each nodule collection device 132 is secured to the support member 131 and is adapted to collect ore nodules from the seafloor adjacent an underside thereof and communicate those nodules to an outlet pipe 133. The nodule collecting apparatus 130 further comprises a combined outlet pipe 134 which is adapted to receive the collected ore nodules from the outlet pipe 133 of each nodule collection device 132 and re-deposit the collected nodules 104 on the seafloor in a windrow.