Near-Field Analysis of Turbidity Flows Generated by Polymetallic Nodule Mining Tools

Elerian, M.F.A.I.; Alhaddad, Said; Helmons, Rudy; Rhee, Cees van

doi:10.3390/mining1030017

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…1A ). A recent modeling effort ( 17 ) did not consider the role of the vehicle’s turbulent wake and three-dimensional effects in the vicinity of the collector vehicle, which this study shows to be vital considerations. Flow conditions in the deep ocean are not quiescent, however, and a collector plume will interact with background currents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

An in situ study of abyssal turbidity-current sediment plumes generated by a deep seabed polymetallic nodule mining preprototype collector vehicle

et al. 2022

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An in situ study to investigate the dynamics of sediment plumes near the release from a deep seabed polymetallic nodule mining preprototype collector vehicle was conducted in the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean 4500-m deep. The experiments reveal that the excess density of the released sediment-laden water leads to a low-lying, laterally spreading turbidity current. At the time of measurement, 2 to 8% of the sediment mass were detected 2 m or higher above the seabed and were not observed to settle over several hours, with the remaining 92 to 98% below 2 m and some fraction of that locally deposited. Our results suggest that turbidity current dynamics sets the fraction of sediment remaining suspended and the scale of the subsequent ambient sediment plume. The implications of this process, which is characteristically overlooked in previous modeling efforts, are substantial for plume modeling that will lie at the heart of environmental impact statements for regulatory consideration.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

An in situ study of abyssal turbidity-current sediment plumes generated by a deep seabed polymetallic nodule mining preprototype collector vehicle

et al. 2022

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“…Firstly, the force exerted by the flow on the bed is the key parameter to be optimised in order to minimise the erosion depth. Once minimised, the amount of discarded sediment behind the collector through a discharge duct will be minimised, consequently reducing the corresponding environmental pressure [10]. Secondly, the amount of the spilling water behind the collector head must also be minimised in order to reduce the amount of suspended sediment transported directly behind the collector head.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The prediction of the evolution and fate of these plumes is central to the environmental impact assessment of deep-sea mining activities [6][7][8][9]. To this end, the characteristics of the sediment-water mixture discharged at the rear of the collector should be determined [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediment Erosion Generated by a Coandă-Effect-Based Polymetallic-Nodule Collector

Alhaddad

Helmons

2023

JMSE

Self Cite

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To date, hydraulic collection is the most widely considered technology in polymetallic-nodule mining, since there is no direct contact between hydraulic collectors and ocean floor. To construct a hydraulic collector that results in the least sediment disturbance, it is critical to develop an insightful understanding of the interaction between the collector and sediment bed. To this end, we conducted a set of small-scale experiments in which several operational conditions were tested, delivering the first quantitative data for sediment erosion resulting from a hydraulic collector driving over a sand bed. This paper presents and discusses the experimental results and observations. It is found that the collector’s forward velocity is inversely proportional to the bed-sediment erosion depth, since the bed is exposed to the flow for a longer time when the collector drives slower and vice versa. In contrast, an increased jet velocity leads to a larger erosion depth. Furthermore, when the collector underside is nearer to the sediment bed, a larger sediment layer is exposed to the water flow, resulting in a larger erosion depth. Finally, the experimental results show that collector water jets strike the sediment bed under an inclined angle, destabilizing the upper sediment layer and consequently dragging sediment particles along toward the collection duct and behind the collector head. This study improves the predictability of sediment erosion created by Coandă-effect-based collectors, which is a crucial asset to optimize the collector design and decrease the extent of the associated sediment plumes.

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“…Additional numerical simulation studies for sediment plume behavior in deep-sea water columns were reported [90,91]. The ground truth of the simulation results by the environmental monitoring of larger-scale deep-sea impact experiments is required for quantitative multidisciplinary impact and risk assessments of FN mining.…”

Section: Large-scale Deep-sea Impact Experiments Scheduled and Simulation Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary Economic Feasibility Study of Ferromanganese Nodule Mining by Mechanical Lifting and Small-Scale Collectors

Hong¹,

Kim²,

Yeu³

et al. 2021

Minerals

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Ferromanganese nodules have been recognized as a potential future metal source for over 50 years. Many research and development efforts have been conducted by many organizations. Most of the efforts have been concentrated into the mining technologies especially for hydraulic lifting through riser pipes with bulk-scale nodule collector. However, no commercial mining venture exists. Uncertainty in the economy of nodule mining is considered to be the reason for this. In order to improve the economy, a mining subsystem based on mechanical lifting and small-scale collectors is proposed and the preliminary economic feasibility is examined in this study. The benefit was at a favorable level compared with that using hydraulic lifting with bulk-scale collector. From the viewpoint of environmental impact assessment, environmental considerations of deep-sea sediment plume are explained.

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Near-Field Analysis of Turbidity Flows Generated by Polymetallic Nodule Mining Tools

Cited by 16 publications

References 74 publications

An in situ study of abyssal turbidity-current sediment plumes generated by a deep seabed polymetallic nodule mining preprototype collector vehicle

An in situ study of abyssal turbidity-current sediment plumes generated by a deep seabed polymetallic nodule mining preprototype collector vehicle

Sediment Erosion Generated by a Coandă-Effect-Based Polymetallic-Nodule Collector

Preliminary Economic Feasibility Study of Ferromanganese Nodule Mining by Mechanical Lifting and Small-Scale Collectors

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