Abstract:
Metal mineral resources are critical materials for the world economic development. In a situation of weak supply of terrestrial rare metals, many countries are expanding the direction of resource extraction from a land-based approach to a land-sea approach, with an increased emphasis on marine resource extraction. Aiming at the problem of efficient exploration of deep-sea resources, it is crucial to investigate the equipment and technology used in the deep-sea mining (DSM). First, the history of scientific technologies and equipment for DSM is systematically discussed, and the technical characteristics of submarine-drag bucket mining system, continuous line bucket mining system, shuttle vessel mining system, and pipe lift mining system are analyzed, the development and current status of the three types of deep-sea vehicles, transport equipment, and mining vessel are summarized. Subsequently, on the basis of current research and development trends, the research developments on the technologies for DSM equipment are synthesized in three areas of mining, transportation, and support platforms. The progress and achievements of four major mining technologies have been reviewed, i.e., harvesting, traction-drive, tracking-planning, and plume evolution assessment. Research developments in four transport technologies are summarized, including pneumatic lifting technology, hydraulic lifting technology, transition parts assurance technology, and mechanical behavior technology. Research direction and progress of two support platform technologies are discussed, involving the launch and recovery technology and heave compensation technology. Finally, the key scientific and technical issues are analyzed and the studies are carried out to meet the environment and safety challenges in the future. It is proposed that four key technologies need to have a breakthrough, which consist of green travel and collection technology, ultra-deep safe mine lifting technology, global synergistic safeguard technology, and digital environmental assessment technology, given the current state of development in the three areas of economy, environment, equipment and technology, as well as the scientific goals of deep-sea mining technology, which is to shift from equipment controllability to safe and green mining. These initiatives provide a theoretical support for the research and construction of the DSM equipment manufacturing system.