Numerical Simulation on Hybrid Lifting Operation of Polymetallic Nodules and Rare-Earth Elements-Rich Mud by Air-Lift Pump in Deep Sea around Minamitorishima Island
Polymetallic nodules and REE-rich mud under the seabed of 5500–5700 m water depth around Minamitorishima island are promising and attractive for exploration and development. Following our previous research, numerical analysis was used to investigate the unsteady flow characteristics and the lifting...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Yoshiyuki Shimizu Masatoshi Sugihara Koichiro Fujinaga Kentaro Nakamura Yasuhiro Kato |
| author_facet | Yoshiyuki Shimizu Masatoshi Sugihara Koichiro Fujinaga Kentaro Nakamura Yasuhiro Kato |
| author_sort | Yoshiyuki Shimizu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Polymetallic nodules and REE-rich mud under the seabed of 5500–5700 m water depth around Minamitorishima island are promising and attractive for exploration and development. Following our previous research, numerical analysis was used to investigate the unsteady flow characteristics and the lifting performance of a commercial production system using an air-lift pump for hybrid lifting, lifting both polymetallic nodules and REE-rich mud. Gas–liquid–solid three-phase flow and gas–liquid two-phase flow in the system were analyzed using the one-dimensional drift–flux model. First, the reliability of the schemes and program was verified by comparing the numerical results with the experimental ones. Next, numerical simulations were conducted, in which the model’s dimensions were related to a commercial production system operated in the deep sea around Minamitorishima island, and the conditions fit the expected production rate. The results revealed the unsteady flow characteristics under the operations, such as start-up, shut-down, feed of polymetallic nodules and REE-rich mud, and those associated with disturbances, such as feed rate fluctuations. We demonstrate that the program and the schemes can simulate the unsteady flow characteristics and the lifting performance of a commercial production system with an air-lift pump well, and they can derive useful information and know-how in advance for the safe and continuous operation of the system. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d8bfce4bccd64196a4b6c785400a8a47 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-d8bfce4bccd64196a4b6c785400a8a472025-08-20T02:44:32ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122025-01-0113226710.3390/jmse13020267Numerical Simulation on Hybrid Lifting Operation of Polymetallic Nodules and Rare-Earth Elements-Rich Mud by Air-Lift Pump in Deep Sea around Minamitorishima IslandYoshiyuki Shimizu0Masatoshi Sugihara1Koichiro Fujinaga2Kentaro Nakamura3Yasuhiro Kato4ShimizuLab, Itasca JAPAN, Shizuoka 420-0862, JapanFormer, School of Marine Science & Technology, Tokai University, Shizuoka 424-8610, JapanFrontier Research Center for Energy and Resources (FRCER), School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, JapanFrontier Research Center for Energy and Resources (FRCER), School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, JapanOcean Resources Research Center for Next Generation (ORCeNG), Chiba Institute of Technology, Narashino 275-0016, JapanPolymetallic nodules and REE-rich mud under the seabed of 5500–5700 m water depth around Minamitorishima island are promising and attractive for exploration and development. Following our previous research, numerical analysis was used to investigate the unsteady flow characteristics and the lifting performance of a commercial production system using an air-lift pump for hybrid lifting, lifting both polymetallic nodules and REE-rich mud. Gas–liquid–solid three-phase flow and gas–liquid two-phase flow in the system were analyzed using the one-dimensional drift–flux model. First, the reliability of the schemes and program was verified by comparing the numerical results with the experimental ones. Next, numerical simulations were conducted, in which the model’s dimensions were related to a commercial production system operated in the deep sea around Minamitorishima island, and the conditions fit the expected production rate. The results revealed the unsteady flow characteristics under the operations, such as start-up, shut-down, feed of polymetallic nodules and REE-rich mud, and those associated with disturbances, such as feed rate fluctuations. We demonstrate that the program and the schemes can simulate the unsteady flow characteristics and the lifting performance of a commercial production system with an air-lift pump well, and they can derive useful information and know-how in advance for the safe and continuous operation of the system.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/2/267numerical simulationhybrid lifting operationpolymetallic nodulesREE-rich mudair-lift pumpMinamitorishima island |
| spellingShingle | Yoshiyuki Shimizu Masatoshi Sugihara Koichiro Fujinaga Kentaro Nakamura Yasuhiro Kato Numerical Simulation on Hybrid Lifting Operation of Polymetallic Nodules and Rare-Earth Elements-Rich Mud by Air-Lift Pump in Deep Sea around Minamitorishima Island Journal of Marine Science and Engineering numerical simulation hybrid lifting operation polymetallic nodules REE-rich mud air-lift pump Minamitorishima island |
| title | Numerical Simulation on Hybrid Lifting Operation of Polymetallic Nodules and Rare-Earth Elements-Rich Mud by Air-Lift Pump in Deep Sea around Minamitorishima Island |
| title_full | Numerical Simulation on Hybrid Lifting Operation of Polymetallic Nodules and Rare-Earth Elements-Rich Mud by Air-Lift Pump in Deep Sea around Minamitorishima Island |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Simulation on Hybrid Lifting Operation of Polymetallic Nodules and Rare-Earth Elements-Rich Mud by Air-Lift Pump in Deep Sea around Minamitorishima Island |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Simulation on Hybrid Lifting Operation of Polymetallic Nodules and Rare-Earth Elements-Rich Mud by Air-Lift Pump in Deep Sea around Minamitorishima Island |
| title_short | Numerical Simulation on Hybrid Lifting Operation of Polymetallic Nodules and Rare-Earth Elements-Rich Mud by Air-Lift Pump in Deep Sea around Minamitorishima Island |
| title_sort | numerical simulation on hybrid lifting operation of polymetallic nodules and rare earth elements rich mud by air lift pump in deep sea around minamitorishima island |
| topic | numerical simulation hybrid lifting operation polymetallic nodules REE-rich mud air-lift pump Minamitorishima island |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/2/267 |
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