Device for monitoring deep-sea sediment environment in mining polymetallic nodules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12061304-B2
Application number	US-202217689928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2022
Priority date	Sep 11, 2020
Publication date	Aug 13, 2024
Grant date	Aug 13, 2024

Abstract

A device for monitoring deep-sea sediment environment in mining polymetallic nodules is provided. The monitoring system includes: acoustic Doppler flow profilers, a self-potential probe, a turbidity meter and an underwater camera. The invention can realize long-term in-situ observation of sediment disturbance, and can realize the mechanical recovery of probe rod-type equipment without large-scale mechanical devices, thereby reducing the overall weight of the recovery equipment and increasing the probability of successful equipment recovery. Compared with the existing long-term in-situ observation equipment on the seabed, it is more environmentally friendly, efficient, energy-saving and reliable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for monitoring deep-sea sediment environment in mining polymetallic nodules, comprising: a monitoring system, a recovery system and a support system;
wherein the monitoring system comprises:
Doppler flow profilers configured to measure current profile data above the device for monitoring the deep-sea sediment environment in mining the polymetallic nodules;
a spontaneous potential probe configured to measure a concentration of suspended solid particles in a water body below the device for monitoring the deep-sea sediment environment, a position of a seabed interface, a porosity of sediment and a redox potential;
a turbidity meter configured to measure a turbidity of seawater at a single point to correct a test result of the spontaneous potential probe; and
an underwater camera with light configured to record a real situation of the suspended solid particles in the water body;
wherein the recovery system comprises: a recovery rack and two acoustic releasers;
wherein the support system comprises a supporting frame; the recovery rack is provided on the supporting frame and connected with the supporting frame by an iron chain; wherein the iron chain passes through a bolt provided on a top of the supporting frame, and two ends of the iron chain are fixed on the acoustic releasers;
wherein the recovery system further comprises: a float, a spring and a beacon; wherein both the float and the spring are provided on a top portion of the recovery rack; a height of the beacon is higher than the float; the spring is made of 316 stainless steel with a pulling force of 20-50 kg; wherein a first end of the spring is protruding to be connected with the spontaneous potential probe, and the spring is in a tensioning state; a second end of the spring is fixed on a horizontal rod on the recovery rack; the two acoustic releasers are both fixed on a middle part of the recovery rack; an upper part of the spontaneous potential probe is provided with grooves, and a lower part of the recovery frame corresponding to the grooves is provided with spring-tensioned snaps, which connect a cable and is connected to hooks of the acoustic releasers via a pulley.

2. The device for monitoring the deep-sea sediment environment in the mining polymetallic nodules, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the support system further comprises a stop plate, wherein the stop plate is a circular disc made of 316 stainless steel, and a through hole is provided in a middle portion of the stop plate.

3. The device for monitoring the deep-sea sediment environment in the mining polymetallic nodules, as recited in claim 1 , wherein a bottom of the spontaneous potential probe is provided with a metal bottom cone, a top of the spontaneous potential probe is provided with a collection chamber, and a middle portion of the spontaneous potential probe are provided with plurality of solid ring reference electrodes with intervals of 2 cm.

4. The device for monitoring the deep-sea sediment environment in the mining polymetallic nodules, as recited in claim 3 , wherein the solid ring reference electrodes are made of titanium alloy as a skeleton, and graphene with a thickness of 0.1-1 mm is evenly covered on surfaces of the solid ring reference electrodes, after coating, the solid ring reference electrodes are put in an oven at 150° C. for 30 minutes.

5. The device for monitoring the deep-sea sediment environment in the mining polymetallic nodules, as recited in claim 1 , an amount of the Doppler flow profilers are two, wherein one of the Doppler flow profilers is high frequency for measuring a velocity of a bottom water body downward, and the other of the Doppler flow profilers is low frequency for measuring a velocity of an upper water body upward.

6. The device for monitoring the deep-sea sediment environment in the mining polymetallic nodules, as recited in claim 1 , wherein a rubber sleeve with a diameter in size between a diameter of the spontaneous potential probe and a diameter of the collection chamber is provided on an external of the spontaneous potential probe.

Assignees

• Ocean Univ China

Inventors

• Jia Yonggang
• Fan Zhihan
• Ji Chunsheng
• Song Xiaoshuai
• Shan Hailong

Classifications

• G01V8/02

  Prospecting · CPC title

• G01V3/082 Primary

  operating with fields produced by spontaneous potentials, e.g. electrochemical or produced by telluric currents (G01V3/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01V1/3852

  to the seabed · CPC title

• E21C50/00

  Obtaining minerals from underwater, not otherwise provided for (suction dredgers or component parts thereof E02F3/88; equipment for conveying or separating excavated material E02F7/00; dippers G01N1/12) · CPC title

• E21C39/00

  Devices for testing in situ the hardness or other properties of minerals, e.g. for giving information as to the selection of suitable mining tools · CPC title