Turbidity at the Source: Aiming for Minimized Sediment Dispersion During Deep-Sea Mining
Rudy L.J. Helmons (TU Delft - Offshore and Dredging Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))
Said Alhaddad (TU Delft - Offshore and Dredging Engineering)
Claire Chassagne (TU Delft - Environmental Fluid Mechanics)
Mohamed Elerian (TU Delft - Offshore and Dredging Engineering)
G. H. Keetels (TU Delft - Offshore and Dredging Engineering)
Alex Kiricheck (TU Delft - Rivers, Ports, Waterways and Dredging Engineering)
Laurenz Thomsen (University of Gothenburg)
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Abstract
The chapter gives an overview of the sediment dispersion generated by the mining process. Within the field of dredging engineering, ample experience is available regarding equipment, turbidity generated by equipment, and sediment transport processes. High up the environmental impact mitigation hierarchy are avoidance and minimization. That is where engineering can provide (part of) the solution. It is our aim to predict and consider how we can improve the mining process and equipment. Within this context, our focus is on those processes that are likely to take place close to the seabed. On the one hand, our work focuses on the prediction and reduction of the amount of sediment that might get suspended. On the other hand, considering the conditions under which the suspended sediment might be released in the most optimal way to reduce dispersion, we have performed and analysed small-scale and full-scale laboratory experiments of a hydraulic collector design and various dynamic sedimentation experiments.