Scholarlink

<p>Poly-metallic nodules on the deep-sea floor represent a significant untapped source of essential metals, yet, the efficient and non-disruptive collection of these resources remains critical to sustainable deep-sea mining. This study presents the design, development, and field evaluation of a crawler-mounted mechanical collection system for harvesting poly-metallic nodules, tested at Sewell Rise in the Andaman Sea at a depth of 1,193&#xa0;m. The system incorporates a novel arc-type tooth collection mechanism comprising a series of curved blades mounted on a modular frame and driven by a chain sprocket arrangement. The modular structure of the collection head allows for adaptability across varying terrain conditions. As the sprocket rotates, the blades scoop the nodules from the seabed with synchronized motion, enhancing lifting efficiency and reducing slippage. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted in a controlled tank environment using artificial nodules and seabed stimulants to investigate the influence of collector angle and rotation speed on resistance force and nodule recovery efficiency while also validating the system’s mechanical integrity on uneven seabed terrain. Results showed that a collector angle of 60° and 58°, operating at approximately 10&#xa0;rpm, achieved optimal performance, reaching a collection efficiency of up to 60%. Further experimental evaluation under simulated conditions indicated that towing speeds between 0.1 and 0.15&#xa0;m/s, along with the arc-tooth design, significantly reduced sediment disturbance. Overall, the findings confirm the technical viability, terrain adaptability, and sustainable performance of chain sprocket-based mechanical systems, offering a promising alternative to hydraulic suction methods for future deep-sea mining in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Experimental Investigation and Offshore Deployment of Crawler-Mounted Nodule Collector: An Approach Towards the Deep Sea Mineral Exploration

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月29日

查看全文
  • C. Janarthanan,
  • S. Padmanaba Sundar,
  • V. Sundaramoorthy,
  • V. Chandran,
  • A. Umapathy,
  • Gopkumar K

摘要

Poly-metallic nodules on the deep-sea floor represent a significant untapped source of essential metals, yet, the efficient and non-disruptive collection of these resources remains critical to sustainable deep-sea mining. This study presents the design, development, and field evaluation of a crawler-mounted mechanical collection system for harvesting poly-metallic nodules, tested at Sewell Rise in the Andaman Sea at a depth of 1,193 m. The system incorporates a novel arc-type tooth collection mechanism comprising a series of curved blades mounted on a modular frame and driven by a chain sprocket arrangement. The modular structure of the collection head allows for adaptability across varying terrain conditions. As the sprocket rotates, the blades scoop the nodules from the seabed with synchronized motion, enhancing lifting efficiency and reducing slippage. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted in a controlled tank environment using artificial nodules and seabed stimulants to investigate the influence of collector angle and rotation speed on resistance force and nodule recovery efficiency while also validating the system’s mechanical integrity on uneven seabed terrain. Results showed that a collector angle of 60° and 58°, operating at approximately 10 rpm, achieved optimal performance, reaching a collection efficiency of up to 60%. Further experimental evaluation under simulated conditions indicated that towing speeds between 0.1 and 0.15 m/s, along with the arc-tooth design, significantly reduced sediment disturbance. Overall, the findings confirm the technical viability, terrain adaptability, and sustainable performance of chain sprocket-based mechanical systems, offering a promising alternative to hydraulic suction methods for future deep-sea mining in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).