심해저 망간단괴용 양광펌프 육상성능시험

Abstract

The concept of continuous mining for manganese nodules, i.e. quasi-constant mass flow of nodules from seafloor sediment to surface, suggests three sub-operations in total mining: collecting, lifting, onboard treatment. The combination of the three compo-nents could be shaped by a self-propelled seafloor mining robot, flexible conduit, buffer, lifting pumps and pipe and mining platform in principal configuration. The lifting tech-nology is to transport the specified quantity slurry mixing sea water and nodule up to the support vessel. The lifting pump is developed to transport manganese nodule at 2,000m depth. In December 2015, KRISO has performed the real sea test for the pilot scale lifting system, which is composed of lifting pump, buffer and riser. This paper introduces about the development and the laboratory test of lifting pump. Through the laboratory test, we will check the performance of lifting pump and the capacity of driving system prior to the real sea test.