Review on the Technology and Equipment Progress and the System Scheme of Deep-sea Mining

The deep seabed is rich in minerals, which must be exploited by deep-sea mining technology and equipment. The rapid growth in demand for critical metals, such as new energy batteries, has promoted the commercialization of deep-sea mining technology and equipment research. The research progress of deep-sea mining technology and equipment and several large-scale deep-sea mining system sea trials in recent years are introduced. From the perspective of commercial exploitation of deep-sea minerals, the functional requirements and performance indicators of deep-sea mining technology and equipment are sorted out. As taking the commercial mining of deep-sea polymetallic nodules as the object, the primary technical scheme of the mining system that may be applicable under commercial production requirements is analyzed. The basic functions of the mining vessel are sorted out, and its displacement and main scale parameters are estimated. The structural form of the mining vehicle collection device and the traveling device are recommended, and the dimension scale is measured; besides, the problems encountered in the pneumatic lifting method under the large-capacity index are analyzed. Finally, the preliminary design of the hydraulic lifting system and the applicable scheme of the main components are proposed. It is indicated that pipeline hydraulic upgrading has become the mainstream scheme of the current deep-sea mining system through the comprehensive analysis of the research progress of deep-sea mining technology and equipment and the basic scheme of commercial mining system. The research on the walking and navigation technology of seabed mining vehicles has made great progress, and the underwater lifting system can learn from the relevant technology and equipment of offshore oil and gas engineering. Consequently, the research on deep-sea mining technology and equipment has reached the level of developing commercial mining system and equipment, and minimizing the disturbance of mining operations to the marine environment has become another important direction. © 2023 Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering. All rights reserved.