Mining of Deep-Seabed Nodules Using a Coandă-Effect-Based Collector

We present an effective design of a hydraulic, polymetallic nodule collector, which fundamentally depends on the Coandă effect in harvesting nodules. The design was first developed based on 2D numerical simulations conducted using a computational fluid dynamics tool, ANSYS FLUENT. Following that, the design was tested in full-scale experiments,...

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

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...

Flocculation effect on turbidity flows generated by deep-sea mining: A numerical study

We have developed and investigated a hydrodynamic model of Deep-Sea Mining (DSM) collector turbidity flows that captures sediment particle aggregation and breakup. Flocculation is expected to have a significant impact on determining the spread patterns of the turbidity flows and the resulting turbidity currents. The recently validated drift...

Preliminary Powerplant concepts of a DSM production support vessel

The Effect of Moisture on the Granular Characteristics of Polymetallic Nodules in the Context of Bulk Handling

In recent decades, a significant amount of the research into deep sea polymetallic nodule mining has been conducted on the collecting vehicle and the riser system accommodating transport from the seabed to the mining support vessel. <br/>The topside operation, however, is less commonly described in the literature. This part of the operation...

Experimental and Numerical Modelling of Deep-Sea-Mining-Generated Turbidity Currents

Renewable energy installations and energy storage solutions require significant quantities of critical raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and rare earth metals. The supply chains of these raw materials face many difficulties, such as the continuous decrease of mineral ore grades on land. In view of these complications, the motivation to...

Full-scale experiments on a coandă-effect-based polymetallic-nodule collector

Polymetallic nodules are potato-sized rock accretions that form on vast areas of the abyssal plains of the global ocean. These nodules are rich in commercially precious metals, such as nickel, cobalt and copper, making them a target for potential future deep-sea exploitation. Generally, polymetallic nodules are partially buried in the seabed...

Experimental investigation of sediment erosion generated by a coandă-effect-based polymetallic-nodule collector

Owing to the absence of direct contact between hydraulic polymetallic-nodule collectors and seabed, hydraulic collection is deemed, from an environmental point of view, the most preferred technique in nodule mining. To design a hydraulic collector that results in minimum sediment disturbance, it is crucial to develop a solid understanding of the...

The effect of particle size, salinity, flocculating agents on the propagation of mining-generated turbidity currents

Renewable energy installations and energy storage solutions require a significant amount of critical raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements. The supply chains of these raw materials face many challenges, e.g., these materials are often found at lower grades on land. These complications motivate the search for new resources....

"Hydrocyclone separation of polymetallic nodules from surrounding water and sediment in deep-sea mining operations"

Growing populations, high-technology applications and the energy transition raise the demand for rare earth elements. As a secure supply in the future is all but certain, opportunities arise for deep-sea mining. Polymetallic nodules<br/>that are located on the vast, sediment-covered ocean floors, are one of the more promising deep-sea mineral...

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

The interest in polymetallic nodule mining has considerably increased in the last few decades. This has been largely driven by population growth and the need to move towards a green future, which requires strategic raw materials. Deep-Sea Mining (DSM) is a potential source of such key materials. While harvesting the ore from the deep sea by a...

Developing concepts for the mine planning of deep-sea polymetallic nodules

Over the last decade, interest in deep-sea mining of Polymetallic Nodules (PN) has reignited. It is driven by an increasing demand of metals that are critical for the digital economy and modern technologies such as batteries. Methods for resource estimation of PN are known and commercially available. There is however no standard method of a...

Degradation of polymetallic nodules during hydraulic transport under influence of particle-wall and particle-particle interaction

The mining of polymetallic nodules from the seafloor at depths down to 6000m requires the excavation of nodules with a seafloor mining tool, the transport of nodules as a slurry through a jumper hose connecting the mining tool to a vertical hydraulic transport system and the transport of the nodules through the vertical lifting pipe. We focus...

Size reduction of CCZ polymetallic nodules under repeated impact fragmentation

Polymetallic nodules provide an alternative source of valuable metals. Nodules from the seabed of the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a prospective mining area, are typically abundant at depths of around 5 ​km. Mining these nodules comprises excavation or pick-up of nodules and hydraulic transport of nodules from the seafloor to the surface....

Particle Degradation during Vertical Transportation: Contribution of Abrasive Wear on Polymetallic Nodule Degradation

Manganese nodules have been lying on the deep sea soil for centuries before they became known. The first ones to discover the nodules were Murray and Renard, during their scientific cruise between 1872 and 1876 (Murray and Renard, 1876). The Clarion-Clipperton Zone, located between Mexico and Hawaii, appears to have a virtually inexhaustible...

Deep-sea nodule mining: Vertical transportation of collected manganese nodules by means of mechanical lifting

With a rapidly growing population and subsequent technological developments, an increase in demand of rare-earth metals evolves. Land-based deposits seem to be insufficient and shortage impends within the coming decades. Mineral resources from the deep ocean are considered as a possible complement. These minerals occur in various forms. One of...

Research on a Subsea Separation Concept for Deep Sea Mining Purposes

Royal IHC is exploring the possibilities of a subsea separation concept for its deep sea mining concept. The most promising concept from literature was the crossflow separator, this separation concept was further researched. This to have a look at the performance of such a crossflow separator and to find out what geometry is most suitable for...