|
Basic Characteristics
The Underwater Vehicle is viewed as a transport platform for various deep-sea mining operations: using special detachable equipment (mining tools), the Vehicle is capable of harvesting polymetallic nodules, sulphide ores, cobalt crusts, metalliferous sediments and brines. The UV overall dimensions (300-ton carrying capacity): 20 meters long, 19 meters wide, and 9 meters high. The overall weight of the Vehicle is 1,200 tons.
Estimated output of one production complex
|
1 mln tons of nodules per year
|
The “Complex” structure
|
- three ore carriers with a carrying capacity of 35,000 tons each
|
- four autonomous Vehicles with a carrying capacity
of 300 tons each
|
Vehicle weight
|
1,300 tons
|
Dimension
|
26х22х9,5 m
|
Operating cycle duration
|
4 hours
|
One UV installed capacity
|
4,980 kW
|
Below you will find the estimation of optimal technical parameters given as a substantiation for the selected UV carrying capacity.
Carrying Capacity Optimization
The estimation proceeds from a condition that zero buoyancy should be maintained in the course of operating motion
and unloading, as well as during the process of additional filling up (pumping out) in the course of immersion (surfacing).
Carrying capacity
|
100 tons
|
Maintenance of zero buoyancy in the course of 1-hour unloading at the pressure of
|
5∙105 Pa
|
Water injection at a rate of Q=100 m3/3,600 sec
|
0.028 m3/ sec
|
Capacity N=0.028∙5∙105
|
14 kW
|
Water injection in the course of diving to the depth of 6,000 m (pressure 60∙106 Pa) during an hour at a rate of V= 6,000 m/ 3,600 sec=1.7 m/sec, overcoming the resistance power 311 kN (based on immersion hydrodynamics) at a rate of Q=31,1 m3/3,600 sec
|
0.0086 m3/ sec
|
Capacity
|
N=0.0086∙60∙106= 516 kW
|
Maintenance of zero buoyancy in the course of the operating motion within an hour at a pressure of
|
60∙106 Pa
|
Water pumping out at a rate of Q=100 м3/3,600 sec
|
0.028 m3/ sec
|
Capacity N=028∙60∙106
|
1,667 kW
|
Water pumping out while emerging from the depth of 6,000 m (pressure 60∙106 Pa) during an hour at a rate of V= 6,000 m/ 3,600 sec=1,7 m/sec, overcoming the resistance power 283 kN (based on emergence hydrodynamics) at a rate of Q=28,3 m3/3,600 sec
|
0.00786 m3/ sec
|
Capacity N=0.00786∙60∙106
|
472 kW
|
Total capacity
|
2,671 kW
|
Specific capacity (per 1 ton of a product)
|
26.71 kW/t
|
Carrying capacity
|
300 tons
|
Maintenance of zero buoyancy in the course of 1-hour unloading at the pressure of
|
5∙105 Pa
|
Water injection at a rate of Q=300 m3/3,600 sec
|
0.083 m3/ sec
|
Capacity N=0.083∙5∙105
|
41,5 kW
|
Water injection in the course of diving to the depth of 6,000 m (pressure 60∙106 Pa) during an hour at a rate of V= 6,000 m/ 3,600 с=1,7 m/sec, overcoming the resistance power 837 kN (based on immersion hydrodynamics) at a rate of Q=83,7 m3/3,600 sec
|
0.023 m3/sec
|
Capacity N=0.023∙60∙106
|
1,380 kW
|
Maintenance of zero buoyancy in the course of the operating motion during an hour at a pressure of
|
60∙106 Pa
|
Water pumping out at a rate of Q=300 m3/3,600 sec
|
0.083 m3/sec
|
Capacity N=0.083∙60∙106
|
4,980 kW
|
Water pumping out while emerging from the depth of 6,000 m (pressure 60∙106 Pa) during 1 hour at a rate of V= 6,000 m/ 3,600 sec=1,7 m/sec, overcoming the resistance power 554 kN (based on emergence hydrodynamics) at a rate of Q=55,4 m3/3,600 sec
|
0.0154 m3/sec
|
Capacity N=0.0154∙60∙106
|
924 kW
|
Total capacity
|
7,326 kW
|
Specific capacity (per 1 ton of the product)
|
24.42 kW/t
|
Carrying capacity
|
500 tons
|
Maintenance of zero buoyancy in the course of unloading during 2 hours at a pressure of
|
5∙105 Pa
|
Water injection at a rate of Q=500 m3/7,200 sec
|
0.069 m3/sec
|
Capacity N=0.069 ∙5∙105
|
34.7 kW
|
Water injection in the course of submersion to the depth of 6,000 m (pressure 60∙106 Pa) during 2 hours at the rate of V= 6,000 m/ 7,200 sec=0.83 m/sec, overcoming the resistance power 6590 kN (based on immersion hydrodynamics) at a rate of Q=659 m3/7,200 sec
|
0.092 m3/sec
|
Capacity N=0.092∙60∙106
|
5,520 kW
|
Maintenance of zero buoyancy in the course of operating motion during 2 hours at a pressure of
|
60∙106 Pa
|
Water pumping out at a rate of Q=500 m3/7,200 sec
|
0.069 m3/sec
|
Capacity N=0.069∙60∙106
|
4,140 kW
|
Water pumping out while emerging from the depth of 6,000 m (pressure 60∙106 Pa) during 2 hours at the rate of V= 6,000 m/ 7,200 sec=0.83 m/sec, overcoming the resistance power 5,680 kN (based on emergence hydrodynamics) at a rate of Q=568 m3/7,200 sec
|
0.079 m3/ sec
|
Capacity N=0.079∙60∙106
|
4,733 kW
|
Total capacity
|
14,428 kW
|
Specific capacity (per 1 ton of the product)
|
28.86 kW/t
|
In other words, the minimal specific capacity is attained when the carrying capacity equals 300 tons.
|