Technological and profitable analysis of airlifting in deep sea mining systems

Ma, W.; van Rhee, C.; Schott, D.L.

doi:10.3390/min7080143

Technological and profitable analysis of airlifting in deep sea mining systems

Title

Technological and profitable analysis of airlifting in deep sea mining systems

Author

Ma, W. (TU Delft Transport Engineering and Logistics)
van Rhee, C. (TU Delft Offshore and Dredging Engineering)
Schott, D.L. (TU Delft Transport Engineering and Logistics)

Date

2017

Abstract

Airlifting technology utilized in deep-sea mining (DSM) industry was proposed in the 70s of last century, which was triggered by the discovery of vast amounts of mineral resources on the seabed. The objective of this paper is to assess the technological feasibility and profitability analyses in terms of solid production rate, energy consumption per tonnage of mineral, and profitability per tonnage of mineral. The effects of submergence ratio, pipe diameter, particle diameter, mining depth, and gas flux rate are investigated. The analysis is based on a numerical calculation performed in a Matlab environment. The research reported in this paper can assist to select an optimal transport plan for DSM projects depending on its solid production rate, energy consumption, and profitability.

Subject

energy consumption
profitability
pipe diameter
submergence ratio
solid production rate
technological feasibility

To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:6e535f39-aea6-4cb7-85ea-f385da6b5e40

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3390/min7080143

ISSN

2075-163X

Source

Minerals - Open Access Mining & Mineral Processing Journal, 7 (8)

Part of collection

Institutional Repository