Search

EP-4127328-B1 - APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING NODULAR MATERIAL FROM NON-MODULAR MATERIAL AND FOR REMOVING MATERIAL FROM A FLOOR OF A BODY OF WATER

EP4127328B1EP 4127328 B1EP4127328 B1EP 4127328B1EP-4127328-B1

Inventors

  • WALKER, JOHN GRAEME
  • WHITE, ROGER
  • ANDERSON, Charlotte

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20210310

Claims (5)

  1. An apparatus for removing nodular material (2) from a floor (4) of a body of water, the apparatus comprising: moving means (6) for moving the apparatus relative to a floor (4) of a body of water; material removing means for removing nodular material (2) from the floor (4) of the body of water; and connector means adapted to be connected to a conduit to enable said removed nodular material (2) to be transported to a vessel on the surface of the body of water; wherein the material removing means comprises at least one inlet and floor engaging means for engaging the floor of the body of water, wherein the floor engaging means comprises a plurality of protrusions (26) adapted to be arranged forwards of at least one said inlet in a direction of travel of the apparatus and to extend substantially in a direction of travel of the apparatus; and, comprising separator means arranged adjacent at least one said inlet for separating nodular material (2) from non-nodular material of the floor of the body of water, characterised in that the separator means includes at least one surface inclined (20) in use relative to the floor of the body of water and having at least one second aperture (24) therethrough for enabling non-nodular material to pass therethrough and preventing said nodular material (2) from passing therethrough.
  2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions comprise a plurality of tines (26).
  3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one first aperture arranged rearwards of at least one said inlet (18) in a direction of travel of the apparatus for allowing nodular material (2) to pass therethrough.
  4. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising suction means (28) for removing nodular material (2) from at least one said inlet (18).
  5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the suction means (28) is adapted to reverse the direction of flow of water therethrough.

Description

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for removing material from a floor of a body of water, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to an apparatus for removing nodular material from the seabed. Nodules of material including minerals and rare metals form on the seabed in significant depths of water. It is known to mine such material by means of a mining apparatus which rests on the seabed and is supplied with electrical power from a surface vessel via an umbilical cable, wherein the apparatus is connected to a conduit known as a jumper hose, via which the nodular material is pumped to the surface vessel by means of a riser pump. US4070061 discloses an apparatus with a drag shoe to dislodge nodules into a duct that widens, separating the silt from the nodules. US3971593 discloses an apparatus that collects nodules by using pressurised air to move the nodules and then sieves to separate the nodules from the silt. EP3342976 is directed to a mining apparatus having a mining unit, a lift unit and a sorting unit, wherein the sorting is at the water surface. US2010/043256 is directed to an underwater excavation apparatus with thrusters to move. WO87/05878 is directed to an inshore submersible amphibious machine and in one embodiment used to cut and collect weeds growing in the water. Known apparatus of this type suffers from a number of drawbacks. Firstly, manipulators or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are required to assist in connecting the apparatus to the jumper hose. Also, because the weight of the apparatus as it is lowered from the surface vessel to the seabed and raised from the seabed is supported by the umbilical cable, significant mechanical strengthening of the umbilical cable is necessary. The mechanical reinforcement necessary for the umbilical cable generally has poor heat conducting properties, as a result of which the umbilical cable insulation heats up, which in turn limits the electrical power which can be supplied to the apparatus. In addition, the catenary curve of the reinforced umbilical cable is similar to that of the jumper hose used to transport the nodular material to the surface, as a result of which there is a risk of collision between the umbilical cable and a conduit during operation of the apparatus. A further disadvantage of known such apparatus is the difficulty of operation of the apparatus in very soft ground. Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure seek to overcome one or more of the above disadvantages. The invention is as claimed in the claims. The following aspect of the disclosure is not according to the invention and is present for illustration purposes only, wherein there is provided an apparatus for separating nodular material from non-nodular material, the apparatus comprising:- at least one container for receiving liquid containing nodular material and non-nodular material;at least one respective inlet for enabling liquid containing nodular material and non-nodular material to enter at least one said container;at least one respective first outlet for enabling liquid to exit at least one said container; andat least one respective second outlet for enabling liquid to exit at least one said container, wherein at least one said second outlet is arranged at a greater height than at least one said first outlet provided on the corresponding said container, and entry of liquid via at least one said inlet into the container causes reduction in velocity of the liquid. By providing at least one respective second outlet for enabling liquid to exit at least one said container, wherein at least one said second outlet is arranged at a greater height than at least one said first outlet provided on the corresponding said container, and entry of liquid via at least one said inlet into the container causes reduction in velocity of the liquid, this provides the advantage of enabling the reduction in liquid velocity to be such that the concentration of nodular material in liquid exiting at a first outlet increases and the concentration of non-nodular material in liquid exiting at a second outlet increases. In the case of removal of nodular material from the seabed, this provides the further advantage that the amount of undesired non-nodular material removed to a surface vessel is reduced, thereby reducing the environmental impact of returning non-nodular material which has been removed to a surface vessel to the seabed, for example by making it viable to transport such non-nodular material to shore. The apparatus may further comprise barrier means for obstructing a shortest path from at least one said inlet to at least one said second outlet. This provides the advantage of making it more difficult for nodular material than non-nodular material to reach a second outlet, thereby minimising loss of nodular material, and increasing the concentration of nodular material in the vicinity of at least one first outlet. The barrier means may comprise at least one plate. T