Laboratory test of lifting pump for deep seabed manganese nodule

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 components 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 technology 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 2,000 m 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. ？ Springer International Publishing AG 2017.