RU2847959C1 - Complex for the extraction and processing of placer deposits - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: mining industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the mining industry, in particular to the development of placer deposits of minerals on the seabed. The complex for the extraction and processing of placer deposits comprises an above-water vessel connected by a flexible pipeline to a self-propelled unit for primary enrichment, equipped with a soil sampling device, visual surveillance systems and hydroacoustic systems. Inside the hull of the self-propelled unit for primary enrichment, there is a first soil pump, the inlet of which is connected to the pipe of the soil intake device, and the outlet is connected via a pipeline installed inside the self-propelled unit to a hydraulic screen. The inlet of the second soil pump is connected to the drain pipe for the enriched mixture of the hydraulic screen, and the outlet is connected to the hydrocyclone through the inlet pipe of the hydrocyclone. The inlet of the third soil pump is connected to the discharge pipe of the hydrocyclone, and the outlet is connected to the surface vessel through a pipeline. The hydrocyclone is equipped with a drain pipe designed to discharge light-grade separated metal-bearing sands outside the self-propelled unit. The outlet of the pipeline to the surface vessel is connected to a receiving hopper connected to the concentration table via a slurry discharge pipe. The shelter of the self-propelled unit consists of a frame made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped made of austenitic stainless steel, and an awning made of synthetic fabric, on the inner surface of which reinforced threads are fixed at an angle of at least 45°. The frame of the cover is equipped with fasteners for reinforced threads in the form of holes through which the cover of the self-propelled unit is fastened to the sea floor by driving in fastening pins.

EFFECT: increased extraction efficiency and reduced negative impact on marine ecosystems.

1 cl, 6 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the mining industry, in particular to the development of placer deposits of minerals on the seabed, and is applicable to the development of metals that are easily separated by centrifugal forces.

A well-known underwater dredger of the "Mollusk" type (Lobanov V.A. Handbook of shelf development technology L.: Sudostroenie, 1983, pp. 95-97) is mounted on a supporting pontoon with adjustable buoyancy, which includes several quickly replaceable units, such as a set of rock collection devices; a submersible soil pump and electric motor, a support frame, a hydraulic drive station, an energy-slurry pipeline with adjustable buoyancy, a papillon system, and a compressor unit.

The disadvantage is the presence of pontoons; the soil intake device creates uncontrolled disturbance of the mining zone of the bottom deposit.

A known installation with a self-propelled trolley for collecting nodules in the conditions of the bottom of the world ocean (patent RU No. 2112139, published on 05/27/1998), designed for collecting nodules and including an underwater module in which devices are located for storing, sorting, washing and transporting silts and placers and their components to a floating craft, and a bottom module, just in the form of a self-propelled trolley connected to the underwater module by a flexible pipeline and having an actuator in the form of a drum-ripper.

The disadvantages are the ripper drum, which causes uncontrolled stirring of the bottom deposit development zone, and the underwater module, which leads to additional stirring of not only the bottom deposit development zone, but also other layers of the hydrosphere due to the transport device in the underwater module.

A system for developing underwater formations (RU Patent No. 2151872, published June 27, 2000) is known. It consists of a remote-controlled bucket loader-dumper (LDP), which is lowered onto the seabed on a platform. After the machine is lowered, the platform with cables is used as a guide device for moving and securing a container during the recovery of minerals from the seabed. The container's capacity is a multiple of the LDP bucket's capacity, enabling the mineral to be handled without the need for metering devices. The LDP is controlled remotely. The control panel elements are mounted on the LDP bucket and the platform. The LDP bucket teeth are equipped with hydraulic shock assemblies.

The disadvantage is the bucket, which creates uncontrolled stirring of the mining zone of the bottom deposit.

A complex for the extraction and enrichment of solid minerals is known (RU patent No. 2466275, published on November 10, 2012), comprising a floating craft, a receiving device mounted thereon, a single-drum lifting winch and a double-drum scraper winch, deflection blocks, head and tail haulage ropes, a perforated vessel of rectangular cross-section with cutting edges, and bottom anchors with buoys. In this case, the head rope is kinematically connected to the longitudinal traction and ropes pivotally connected to the levers of the cutting planes with the ability to rotate them to cover the base of the vessel in the form of a spatial frame of square cross-section when they are closed by side edges, forming the faces of a regular pyramid oriented with the apex outward along the longitudinal axis of the device, the cutting plane of which is designed in the form of isosceles triangles.

The disadvantage is that the device, as it is being developed, creates uncontrolled disturbance in the mining zone of the bottom deposit.

A system for extracting ferromanganese nodules is known (RU Patent No. 2598010, published September 20, 2016), adopted as a prototype, which comprises a production vessel, a self-propelled collection unit connected to a pipeline via a flexible link, connected to the lower end of the production vessel's pipeline, a transport pipeline, and a storage buffer. Moreover, the system is additionally equipped with an unmanned underwater vehicle with a spatial thrust vector, equipped with hydroacoustic systems and a visual surveillance system, where the upper part of the mechanical flexible link includes a concentrated system of buoyancy elements, and the lower part of the mechanical flexible link, located between the unmanned underwater vehicle and the self-propelled collection unit, includes a distributed system of buoyancy elements.

The disadvantage is the self-propelled collection unit, which, as it is being processed, creates uncontrolled disturbance in the bottom deposit zone.

The technical result is increased production efficiency and reduced negative impact on marine ecosystems.

The technical result is achieved in that inside the housing of the self-propelled unit for primary enrichment there is installed a first soil pump, the inlet of which is connected to the branch pipe of the soil intake device, and the outlet is connected through a pipeline installed inside the self-propelled unit, with a hydraulic screen, a second soil pump, the inlet of which is connected to the drain pipe for the enriched mixture of the hydraulic screen, and the outlet is connected to the hydrocyclone through the inlet pipe of the hydrocyclone, a third soil pump, the inlet of which is connected to the unloading pipe of the hydrocyclone, and the outlet is connected to the surface watercraft through a pipeline, wherein the hydrocyclone is made with a drain pipe intended for ejecting the light class of separated metal-containing sands outside the self-propelled unit, the outlet part of the pipeline on the surface watercraft is connected to the receiving hopper, which is connected to the concentration table through a pulp drain, the shelter of the self-propelled unit consists of a frame, which is made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped made of austenitic stainless steel, and an awning made of synthetic fabric, on the inner surface of which reinforced threads are fixed at an angle of at least 45°, while the frame of the shelter is equipped with a fastening for the reinforced threads, made in the form of holes through which the shelter of the self-propelled unit is secured to the surface of the seabed by deepening the pins for fastening.

The complex for the extraction and processing of placer deposits is illustrated by the following figures:

Fig. 1 – general view of the complex;

Fig. 2 – device for primary enrichment on the seabed, side view;

Fig. 3 – device for primary enrichment on the seabed, top view;

Fig. 4 – a system for enriching metal-containing sands in a primary enrichment device on the seabed, local view;

Fig. 5 – shelter of the mining unit, local view;

Fig. 6 – diagram of enrichment of metal-containing sands on a surface vessel, local view.

1 – surface floating craft;

2 – self-propelled unit for primary enrichment;

3 – pipeline;

4 – electric cable;

5 – shelter for self-propelled unit;

6 – soil collection device;

7 – self-propelled unit branch pipe;

8 – self-propelled unit body;

9 – caterpillar tracks;

10 – hydrocyclone;

11 – hydrocyclone drain pipe;

12 – hydrocyclone discharge pipe;

13 – hydrocyclone inlet pipe;

14 – soil pump;

15 – hydraulic screen;

16 – drain pipe for rich mixture;

17 – drain pipe of the hydraulic screen;

18 – pipeline inside the self-propelled unit;

19 – shelter frame;

20 – awning;

21 – reinforced threads;

22 – pins for fastening the shelter;

23 – hole;

24 – fastening of reinforced threads;

25 – receiving bin;

26 – pulp drain;

27 – concentration table.

The complex for mining and processing placer deposits consists of a surface floating craft 1 (Fig. 1) and a self-propelled unit for primary enrichment 2. The surface floating craft 1 is connected by a pipeline 3 and an electric cable 4 to the self-propelled unit for primary enrichment 2, which is covered by a shelter for the self-propelled unit 5. The self-propelled unit for primary enrichment is connected to the electric cable 4.

The self-propelled unit for primary enrichment 2 (Fig. 2, 3) on a caterpillar track 9 includes a soil intake device 6, connected through a branch pipe of the self-propelled unit 7 with a hydrocyclone 10 and a pipeline 3. The body of the self-propelled unit 8 is made, for example, from austenitic stainless steel.

Inside the body of the self-propelled unit for primary enrichment 8, the first soil pump 14 is installed (Fig. 4), the inlet of which is connected to the branch pipe of the self-propelled unit 7, and the outlet of the pump 14 is connected to the hydraulic screen 15 through a pipeline inside the self-propelled unit 18. The drain pipe for the enriched mixture 16 of the hydraulic screen 15 is connected through a pipeline inside the self-propelled unit 18 to the inlet of the second soil pump 14. The hydraulic screen 15 is equipped with a drain pipe of the hydraulic screen 17. In turn, the outlet of the soil pump 14 is connected to the hydrocyclone 10 through the inlet pipe of the hydrocyclone 13. The hydrocyclone is made with a drain pipe 11 and a discharge pipe 12, which is connected to the inlet of the third soil pump 14 through a pipeline inside the self-propelled unit 18. The outlet of the third soil pump 14 is connected to the surface floating craft 1 through pipeline 3.

The shelter of the self-propelled unit 5 (Fig. 5) consists of a frame 19, which is made in the form of a rectangle, for example, from austenitic stainless steel, and an awning 20. The awning 20 is made of synthetic fabric, on the inner surface of which reinforced threads 21 are fixed at an angle of at least 45°. The frame of the shelter 19 is provided with a fastening for reinforced threads 24, connected to the frame 19 through openings 23, and pins for fastening the shelter 22.

The outlet section of pipeline 3 on surface vessel 1 is connected to receiving bin 25 installed on surface vessel 1 (Fig. 6). Receiving bin 25 is connected to concentration table 27 via pulp outlet 26.

The complex for mining and processing placer deposits operates as follows. Surface vessel 1 (Fig. 1) approaches a pre-prepared mining site for placer mineral deposits, such as placer tin ore deposits. The size and boundaries of the site are pre-determined by installing special acoustic signal markers (not shown in the drawing).

Initially, the self-propelled primary enrichment unit 2 is lowered onto the surface of the seabed together with the self-propelled unit shelter 5, the dimensions of which are determined by the dimensions and boundaries of the area of development of placer mineral deposits (Figs. 1, 2 and 5). The self-propelled primary enrichment unit 2 is connected to the surface floating craft 1 via a pipeline 3, connected to the lower end of the pipeline 3 and connected to the pipeline 3 by a flexible connection. Power is transmitted to the self-propelled primary enrichment unit 2 via an electric cable 4. The shelter of the self-propelled unit 5 is fastened to the surface of the seabed by deepening the fastening pins 22. The movement of the self-propelled primary enrichment unit on the seabed 2 (Figs. 2, 3) along the seabed occurs with the help of caterpillar tracks 9.

In this position, the delivery of the mineral, for example, metal-containing sand, in the form of pulp to the surface floating craft 1 begins through the soil intake device 6 through the branch pipe of the self-propelled unit 7 to the pipeline 3 (Fig. 2, 3).

Inside the body of the self-propelled unit 8, the transportation of pulp through the branch pipe of the self-propelled unit 7 is carried out by the soil pump 14 to the hydraulic screen 15 through the pipeline inside the self-propelled unit 18, where the mineral is separated, for example, metal-containing sands, into undersize and oversize masses, which are then moved through the drain pipe for the enriched mixture 16 to the first soil pump 14 through the pipeline inside the self-propelled unit 18 and the drain pipe of the hydraulic screen 17 to the outside of the self-propelled unit for primary enrichment 2, respectively.

Then the pulp from the second ground pump 14 enters the hydrocyclone 10 (Fig. 4) through the inlet pipe of the hydrocyclone 13, where the mineral is separated, for example, metal-containing sands, by means of centrifugal forces into heavy and light class, which are then moved from the discharge pipe of the hydrocyclone 12 through a pipeline inside the self-propelled unit 18 to the ground pump 14 and the drain pipe of the hydrocyclone 11 to the outside of the self-propelled unit for primary enrichment 2, respectively.

From the third ground pump 14, the pulp with the mineral, for example, metal-containing sand, is fed through the pipeline 3 (Fig. 4) to the surface floating craft 1 into the receiving bin 25 (Fig. 6), where it is fed through the pulp chute 26 to the concentration table 27, through which the purified mineral is fed into the storage compartment, and the pulp with waste rock is sent to the settling compartment, not shown in the drawing.

The proposed system increases the productivity of underwater placer mineral deposits by using a pipeline that connects a self-propelled primary enrichment unit and a surface vessel via a flexible link, which reduces losses during transportation of the extracted mineral component, and by enclosing the self-propelled unit, which reduces the negative impact on marine ecosystems, allowing for controlled stirring of the seabed deposit's mining zone.

Claims (1)

A complex for the extraction and processing of placer deposits, comprising a surface floating craft connected by a flexible pipeline to a self-propelled unit for primary enrichment, equipped with a soil intake device, visual review systems and hydroacoustic systems, characterized in that inside the body of the self-propelled unit for primary enrichment there is installed a first soil pump, the inlet of which is connected to the branch pipe of the soil intake device, and the outlet is connected through a pipeline installed inside the self-propelled unit, with a hydraulic screen, a second soil pump, the inlet of which is connected to the drain pipe for the enriched mixture of the hydraulic screen, and the outlet is connected to a hydrocyclone through the inlet pipe of the hydrocyclone, a third soil pump, the inlet of which is connected to the discharge pipe of the hydrocyclone, and the outlet is connected to the surface floating craft through a pipeline, wherein the hydrocyclone is made with a drain pipe intended for ejecting a light class of separated metal-containing sands to the outside of the self-propelled unit, the outlet part of the pipeline on the surface the floating craft is connected to a receiving hopper, which is connected to a concentration table through a pulp chute, the shelter of the self-propelled unit consists of a frame, which is made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped made of austenitic stainless steel, and an awning, which is made of synthetic fabric, on the inner surface of which reinforced threads are fixed at an angle of at least 45°, while the frame of the shelter is equipped with a fastening for reinforced threads, made in the form of holes through which the shelter of the self-propelled unit is fastened to the surface of the seabed by deepening the pins for fastening.