심해저 망간단괴 집광장치의 시스템 개발 및 근해역 실증시험

Abstract

A self-propelled miner has been developed for the purpose of an inshore test, which was planned to be performed in 100m water depth. The self-propelled test miner is based on the tracked vehicle with buoyancy modules to propel on the soft and weak seafloor. On the vehicle hybrid nodule pick-up module, nodule crusher, hydraulic power unit and control valve assembly, electric-and-electronic control system, sensors, electric power and signal junction boxes, thrusters and buoyancy modules are mounted. The total power of the test miner is 150kW. The mining capacity is 1/20~1/10 of the commercial scale. The remote operation is performed in real-time control based on fiber-optic network communication. The performance of the test miner was tested in Deep-Seabed Mining Laboratory (DML) at MOERI/KORDI. The integrated performance of the test miner and lifting pump was also tested in DML. This paper introduces the design methods and the specifications of the test miner, and shows the configuration of the inshore test. The inshore test results will be orally presented by video materials.