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US 12,606,982 B2Granted
Methods for suppression of seabed mining plumes
AssigneeDeep Reach Technology, Inc.
InventorsRobert D. Blevins, John Halkyard, Michael Rai Anderson, James Wodehouse, Samual Holmes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure addresses the problem of preventing sediment laden water (“sediment slurry”) resulting from hydraulic collection of nodules from the seabed from entering the riser and lift system that carries the nodules to the surface as a slurry. An example includes collecting nodules from the seabed by hydraulic suction, separating the nodules utilizing an inverse hydrocyclone.
Claims14
An apparatus for recovering seafloor minerals comprising:
- a collecting apparatus for recovering nodules, sediment and water from the seabed using a hydraulic pickup head;
- a first pipe connecting the hydraulic pickup head to a diffuser and an inlet of a first gravity separator, the first gravity separator having an overflow and an underflow;
- the underflow of the first gravity separator connected to a discharge throat which is connected to an inverse hydrocyclone having a cylindrical chamber connected to the underflow of the first gravity separator at the top of the cylindrical chamber by the discharge throat, and a first and second tangential opening tangential to the outer circumference of the cylindrical chamber;
- and
- a first pump with an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the first pump is exposed to the outside environment and the outlet of the first pump is connected to the first tangential opening in the cylindrical chamber.
2 more elements
An apparatus for recovering seafloor minerals comprising:
- a plurality of collecting devices contained in a subsea vehicle for recovering nodules, sediment and water from the seabed each collecting device further comprising:
- a hydraulic pickup head;
- a first pipe connecting the hydraulic pickup head to a diffuser and an inlet of a first gravity separator, the first gravity separator having an overflow and an underflow;
- wherein the underflow of the first gravity separator connected to a discharge throat which is connected to an inverse hydrocyclone having a cylindrical chamber connected to the underflow of the first gravity separator to the top of the cylindrical chamber, and a first and second tangential opening tangential to the outer circumference of the cylindrical chamber;
- and a first pump with an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the first pump is exposed to the outside environment and the outlet of the first pump is connected the first tangential opening in the cylindrical chamber.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.