TW201736199A - Mineral lifting system and mineral lifting method - Google Patents

Abstract

A mineral lifting system S comprises: a seabed work machine 13 comprising an excavator 131 to excavate minerals from the seabed, and a slurry pump 132 to suction and pump a solid-liquid mixture of minerals and seawater; a power generator to supply power by electrical power cables 12 to the seabed work machine 13; a main float 20; a mineral lifting pipe 21 to feed the solid-liquid mixture to the main float 20 side; an auxiliary float 22 that is mounted on the mineral lifting pipe 21 at required intervals to impart buoyancy; and a selecting unit 3 to select and collect minerals from the solid-liquid mixture transported to the main float 20 side.

Description

Mineral lifting system and method for mineral lifting

The present invention relates to a mineral lifting system and a mineral lifting method for extracting mineral resources such as valuable metals located on the seabed and lifting the minerals.

For example, in a shallow sea with a water depth of about 20 m, a technique in which sand, iron, or the like contained in seabed sand is pumped together with sand and transported to the ground has been established, and has been industrially applied. Chemical. In addition, in such a shallow seabed, the rock disk containing ore is pulverized and refined, and is also widely used in the mining industry.

However, in recent years, it has been known from actual investigations that there are many submarine deposits in Japan's territorial seas and exclusive economic zones (EEZ). If iron, copper, zinc, gold, etc. contained in the deposit can be extracted and transported to the sea, Japan, which is considered to be resource-poor and completely dependent on imports, can also obtain resources in the country. In this way, especially in Japan, the industry can be more activated, and it can contribute to the supply of resources in the world.

Further, there has been a technique of crushing ore such as a deep seabed having a water depth of 1600 to 5000 m by a mining machine. However, the mine will be crushed in the deep sea The technology of stone transport to the sea has not yet been established. As the transportation technology, although pumping and mechanical (cylinder) can be considered, the mechanical type is extremely low in productivity, so the pump type is now the mainstream of the proposal. For example, there is a mineral lifting device described in Patent Document 1 as a pump.

The mineral lifting device described in Patent Document 1 holds a U-shaped pipe which is one of a down pipe and the other as a riser pipe (corresponding to a mineral lift pipe) from the deep sea floor to the sea surface, and holds the seawater from the riser pipe. The upper end opening is sent to the upper end opening of the downcomer, the seawater is circulated in the U-shaped tube, and the mineral block that is mined in the deep seabed is fed to the bottom of the riser tube, and the liquid level at both ends is maintained at the same height. The characteristics of the U-shaped tube, along with the rising seawater of the riser, causes the mineral block to float to the surface.

[Previous Technical Literature]

[Patent Literature]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-296070

However, the conventional mineral lifting device described above has the following problems.

That is, in the case where the mineral lift pipe made of steel is lowered from the ore processing vessel to, for example, a water depth of 1600 to 5000 m and equipped, even if the mineral lift pipe itself has a certain degree of buoyancy, its substantial weight is 50~ 150 tons. In order to support the mineral riser as a weight, it must be able to charge A large ore processing vessel that is strong and has sufficient buoyancy to withstand this weight.

In addition, in the case of a long-shaped mineral lift pipe which is connected to an ore processing ship or the like and which is connected to a plurality of pipe bodies as a constituent unit, the closer to the sea surface, the more the load is applied to the joint portion as described above. It is extremely difficult to connect the pipes in a strong manner.

Further, when the ore processing vessel or the supporting vessel is used to lower and use the extremely long and heavy mineral lifting pipe as described above, it is expected that the following difficulties are further caused. First of all, with the shaking of the sea surface caused by the waves such as the ore processing ship, the mineral lift pipe will perform the first movement or the first movement, and there is a high possibility that the mineral lift pipe is caused. Broken or destroyed.

In addition, in a bad weather such as a typhoon, when an ore processing ship or the like has to be temporarily evacuated, the continuous connection of the mineral lift pipe may hinder navigation, and thus it is necessary to cut off the mineral lift pipe. At this time, how to cut off the mineral lift pipe or how to recover the cut off mineral lift pipe is a great problem.

Furthermore, the next problem with mineral lift pipes is the development of a pumping system capable of transporting seawater containing crushed ore from the deep seabed to the sea. In other words, the deep sea of, for example, 1600 to 6000 m is transported as described above, and in any case, the capacity of one pump is exceeded. Therefore, a pump system composed of a plurality of pumps or a plurality of pumps is necessary. However, there have been no adequate countermeasures in the past.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, For the purpose of a mineral lifting system and a mineral lifting method, it is equipped with a pumping system capable of transporting seawater containing crushed ore from the deep seabed to the sea, so that the mineral lift pipe that falls to the deep sea will not The weight of the ore is removed from the connection portion of the pipe body, and the ore processing ship or the like that supports it does not need to be increased in size to ensure buoyancy, and is not treated by ore when the sea conditions such as typhoon are not good. The ship is shaken by waves and the mineral lift pipe is damaged, and it is not necessary to give up the mineral lift pipe for refuge.

(1) In order to achieve the above object, the mineral lifting system of the present invention comprises: a subsea working machine capable of moving operation, an excavating portion for excavating minerals under the sea floor or the sea floor, and a mineral and seawater containing excavation. a solid-liquid mixture for pumping and pumping; a power supply unit having a cable for supplying power to the subsea working machine as a power source; the main float having the required buoyancy and floating at sea or in the sea a mineral lifting pipe having a required length, which is connected to the pump of the main float and the subsea working machine, and transports the solid-liquid mixture containing minerals and seawater attracted by the pump to the main float side; the auxiliary float Provided at a desired interval in the longitudinal direction of the mineral lift pipe and imparting the required buoyancy to the mineral lift pipe; and the mineral screening portion is transported from the mineral lift pipe to the main float The side solid-liquid mixture is screened for minerals and collected.

The action of the mineral lift system of the present invention will be described by way of an example in which the operation of raising valuable minerals in the deep sea to the sea is performed.

The mineral lifting system is a subsea working machine that is placed on a predetermined deep seabed with a deposit, and the main float is floating at sea. In addition, the mineral screening unit or the power supply unit can be installed, for example, on a work boat such as a mother ship, and the cable constituting the power supply unit is connected to the power receiving unit of the subsea working machine. The submarine working machine running portion, the excavating portion, and the pump are driven by the supplied electric power.

Further, it is also possible to equip the signal cable for exchanging the control of the excavation portion of the subsea working machine, the control of the traveling portion, or the control of the pump, together with the cable.

The pump and main float of the subsea working machine are connected by a long mineral lifting pipe which is suspended from the main float in the vertical direction, and the solid-liquid mixture conveyed by the mineral lifting pipe is further transported to the equipment. Mineral screening department such as work boat.

The mineral lift pipe is attached to a desired portion, for example, a plurality of auxiliary floats are installed at regular intervals, and a predetermined buoyancy is given to the mineral lift pipe. Thereby, the mineral lift pipe is floated so as not to fall to the sea floor. Moreover, the pumping of the lower end of the mineral lift pipe close to the seabed and the subsea working machine is such that the movement of the subsea working machine is not hindered, or the position of the mineral lifting pipe floating in the sea is not changed. The way to block is better with flexible pipe connections.

In the mineral lift system, for the long strip of mineral lift pipe, the main float and each auxiliary float are given a buoyancy to the extent that the mineral lift pipe does not fall to the sea floor. The auxiliary floats are arranged at the required intervals in the length direction of the mineral lift pipe, so by means of the auxiliary floats, The weight of the mineral lift pipe is shared and supported.

That is, when the auxiliary float is mounted at a desired interval in the longitudinal direction of the mineral lift pipe, if each auxiliary float imparts a buoyancy amount to the weight of the mineral lift pipe for the length between the auxiliary floats, In theory, it is possible to make the load of the long metal riser pipe not act on the upper part of the mineral lift pipe.

Thus, if the auxiliary float is given appropriate buoyancy, a large load that is biased toward a part of the gravity direction is not applied in the longitudinal direction of the mineral lift pipe, and the above-described configuration is applied to the mineral evenly at a desired interval. The length direction of the riser tube is also effective. Further, by this, it is possible to prevent the mineral lift pipe from being broken from the middle due to its own large load, and if the mineral lift pipe is configured to connect a plurality of pipe bodies, it is possible to prevent the connection portion of the pipe body from being damaged and to make the mineral riser pipe Do not fall to the bottom of the sea.

Moreover, the total buoyancy of the main float and the auxiliary floats that float the mineral riser is appropriately set. However, it is not necessary to have the buoyancy of the uppermost main float floating on the sea surface, and at least the mineral can be maintained. The lower end of the riser does not fall to the bottom of the sea (the state of not floating and floating in the sea) is preferably floating buoyancy.

Further, even if the lower end side of the mineral lift pipe is in contact with the sea floor, buoyancy in a state in which the upper side is maintained in the longitudinal direction of the sea is preferable.

In addition, the mineral lift pipe as a weight is a mother ship that is controlled by a mineral lift system by the buoyancy of the main float and each auxiliary float. It is not necessary to support a mineral lift pipe for a ship or a ship, so there is no need to enlarge the ship.

In addition, the substantial weight of the mineral lift pipe is heavier than in the case of empty, because the weight of the solid-liquid mixture that is transported inside is added during system operation. Therefore, the setting of the buoyancy by the above-mentioned floats is not set based on the weight of the empty mineral lifting pipe, and it is necessary to consider the above points.

Further, while the subsea working machine is appropriately moved by remote control, the excavation portion excavates, for example, the sea bottom surface of the deposit or the sea floor, thereby obtaining the mineral particles pulverized to the desired particle diameter. These mineral particles are pumped together with the surrounding sand or seawater, become a solid-liquid mixture, and are transported to the main float side of the sea through a mineral lift pipe. The solid-liquid mixture conveyed to the main float side is sent to a mineral screening unit to collect valuable minerals therefrom.

Further, the subsea working machine can be placed, for example, in a water depth of several thousand m, not only a valuable mineral such as a precious metal or a rare metal existing under the sea floor or under the sea, but also a methane hydrate as a fossil fuel (for example). Subsurface use of a region of many useful resources such as surface type methane hydrate). The mineral lift system can also be used as a system for raising useful resources other than minerals from the deep sea to the sea.

(2) The present invention can be configured as a pump-based slurry pump of the above-described subsea working machine.

At this time, the solid-liquid mixture containing minerals and seawater is not damaged by the movable portion of the pump, and can be transported (pressure-fed). In addition, by slurry Pumped, a solid-liquid mixture containing a large amount of sand or mineral particles can also be transported. Thereby, even if the ratio of the solid matter such as sand or mineral grains to seawater fluctuates during the operation, it can be handled flexibly without difficulty, and the operation can be continued. Further, the slurry pumping is excellent in the structure, and the solid-liquid mixture can be efficiently transported.

The slurry pumping is not particularly limited as long as the solid-liquid mixture can be transported without causing damage to the movable portion. For example, a gravel pump, a sand pump, a hose pump, or the like can be cited.

(3) The present invention can be configured to have an auxiliary pumping system that injects a desired pressure into a desired portion of the mineral lift pipe to assist a conveyance of the solid-liquid mixture.

At this time, even if there is not one, the solid-liquid mixture can be transported from the deep seabed of, for example, several thousand m to the pump at sea, and the liquid is assisted by the auxiliary pump in the middle of the mineral lift pipe by injecting the required pressure. Thereby, it is possible to carry it by, for example, a long distance of several thousand m from the deep sea floor to the sea.

Auxiliary pumping, for the above purpose, it is not necessary to inject a solid-liquid mixture into the mineral lift pipe, and it is possible to inject the surrounding seawater, so that it is also possible to use a pump other than the slurry pump, for example, a multi-segment spiral with an impeller. Pumps such as pumps or diaphragm pumps.

In addition, at present, for example, a crushing ore conveying pump for deep seas of 1600 m or more is still difficult to be practical, and it is not difficult to imagine that an ultra-deep sea development system of 4000 to 6000 m is extremely difficult. As a solution, the existing pump is effective for multiple or most combinations. If the mineral lift pipe is as long as several thousand In the case of m, a seawater pump (mixed flow, diagonal flow) is used, and it is impossible to transport a solid-liquid mixture containing crushed ore, particularly to a work vessel on the sea surface.

However, when the energy for transporting the solid-liquid mixture is insufficient in the middle of the mineral lift pipe, the problem can be eliminated by pumping high-pressure seawater into the middle of the mineral lift pipe by pumping at a small flow rate. The kinetic energy (energy) that is pumped to the fluid is determined by the product P × Q of the pressure P and the flow rate Q. Therefore, it is preferable that the pump whose pressure is ultrahigh pressure and extremely small flow rate is to be efficient. In addition, if the flow rate is small, the pump can be miniaturized.

(4) The present invention can be configured to include a GPS receiver and a position compensation device that compares position information received by the GPS receiver with a predetermined position of a mineral lift system. The position is compensated in such a manner as to maintain the set position.

At this time, the position of the predetermined mineral lift system can be maintained by using GPS (Global Positioning System). That is, position information showing the position of the mineral lift system is obtained by a GPS receiver provided at a desired portion of the mineral lift system (for example, a main float, etc.).

Next, the position information set as a reference in advance and the position information acquired by the GPS receiver are compared by the position compensation device. Further, based on the difference, the position of the mineral lift system (at this time, the position of the main float) is maintained by the position compensation device at the position (set position) as the reference or as the approach (orientation). The way of the position of the reference is compensated by moving. Moreover, the compensation of this position may be performed frequently during the operation of the system, and may be performed at regular intervals.

The position compensating device is integrally disposed at a desired position of the mineral lifting system floating in the sea and is capable of moving a part or all of the system. The position compensation device is not particularly limited as long as it can compare the position information obtained by the GPS receiver with the position information of the predetermined reference and compensate the position based on the difference.

For example, a motor, a plurality of propellers that are driven by a motor, and a battery that is a driving source of the motor, and a control unit that selects a motor and a propeller by comparing the position information. . In addition, the position compensation device can be configured in multiples in the system.

Further, it is preferable that the position compensating device is provided with a GPS receiver, but it is not limited thereto, and can be appropriately set. For example, both the GPS receiver and the position compensation device may be provided on the main float, or the GPS receiver may be provided on the float when the cable is supported by the float, and the position compensation device may be disposed on the main float. In the latter case, if the distance between the float as the support portion of the cable and the main float is constant or almost constant in structure, the position can be compensated substantially in the same manner as the former.

(5) The present invention can be configured to include a water injection and drainage device that adjusts the buoyancy of the float by injecting water into the main float and draining the outside.

At this time, the seawater is taken into the main float by the water discharge device, or the internal seawater is discharged to the outside, whereby the buoyancy of the main float itself can be appropriately adjusted. By adjusting the buoyancy of the main float in this way, it is possible to expose a part of the main float from the sea surface or all of it to the sea surface. In addition, It is able to adjust the height of the main float below the sea surface when sinking.

If the main float is sunk below the sea surface, the main float is not susceptible to waves (up and down movement of the sea surface). For example, in a typhoon, or in a bad weather when the typhoon is approaching, if the main float still floats on the surface of the sea, it will be affected by the violent waves and will move up and down or laterally to make the minerals connected to the main float. The possibility of deformation or breakage of the mounting portion of the riser or its peripheral portion is improved. Moreover, the waves generated on the sea surface are mostly about m to 10 m below the sea surface. If the main float is floated deeper than it, it can be hardly affected by waves even in a typhoon.

The structure of the water injection and drainage device is not particularly limited. For example, the main float is a structure including a waterproof lithium battery, a pump that is driven by the electric power, a water suction valve, and a drain valve, and the main float is driven by driving the pump. The seawater in the internal space is used for drainage or water absorption from the outside, and the amount of seawater can be adjusted.

(6) The present invention is characterized in that it includes a work boat having the power supply unit and the mineral screening unit, and a cable constituting the power supply unit and the mineral screening unit The riser receives the feed tube of the solid-liquid mixture, and is capable of being cut away in a state in which the system can resume operation.

At this time, in the system operation, the cable and the feed pipe are connected and operate separately. In addition, for example, when the typhoon approaching the bad weather, or if the workboat has to rely on the port for other reasons, the work must be separated from the on-site waters, and the cable or the feed pipe can be cut off.

At this point, the cable or the feed tube is not even cut away. The method of sinking into the sea or falling to the sea floor is also fixed to the support portion such as the float after the cutting off.

Further, when the reason for disengaging the workboat is eliminated, the workboat returns to the work area, and the cable or the feed pipe is connected to the workboat side, and the mineral lift system is returned to the original state, and the operation of the system can be restarted. In this way, the workboat can be detached from the system and returned without causing a situation such as having to give up the main float or the mineral lift pipe to evacuate, and the work boat can be flexibly moved, so that the system can be easily used.

(7) The present invention may be configured such that a portion of the main float to which the mineral lift pipe is connected is provided with a suspension device supporting the mineral lift pipe, and the mineral lift pipe near the suspension device It is possible to vibrate in a desired swing range in the gap through which the mineral lift pipe passes.

At this time, in the main float through or connected with the mineral riser, the mineral lift pipe is supported by the suspension device, and the mineral lift pipe near the suspension device is capable of swinging in the gap as desired. Since the range is vibrated or shaken, the degree of freedom of movement of the portion of the mineral lift pipe is high and does not become a fixed state.

Therefore, especially in the case where the main float floats on the sea, even if the main float is repeatedly moved up and down or laterally shaken by the influence of the waves, the mineral lift pipe is attached to the vicinity of the suspension device so as not to be deformed, and the length direction is The advancement and retreat movement or the vibration or the shaking in the diameter direction can be freely moved to some extent, so that it is less likely to cause damage or breakage due to, for example, metal fatigue.

Further, the structure of the suspension device is not limited, and for example, it is configured by a combination of a coil spring capable of supporting a mineral lift pipe or a link mechanism of a projectile. The suspension device is configured to be capable of supporting the substantial weight of the mineral lift pipe to which buoyancy is imparted by the auxiliary float on the sea side, and has a buffering action when the mineral lift pipe moves forward and backward in the longitudinal direction.

(8) The present invention can be configured such that an auxiliary float is disposed at a desired interval in the longitudinal direction of the cable, thereby imparting a desired buoyancy to the cable. At this time, as in the case of the above-described mineral lift pipe, the required buoyancy is imparted to the cable by the buoyancy of the auxiliary float. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the cable from being broken in the middle of the longitudinal direction due to its own weight.

(9) The present invention can be configured as follows: The mineral screening unit is provided with a wastewater treatment device. At this time, the minerals can be screened and collected by the mineral screening unit, and the waste water treatment device can apply the desired treatment to the waste liquid, and then the clear water can be used for seawater injection (also referred to as sea throwing). Disciplinary action.

(10) The present invention can be configured as follows: The mineral screening unit is provided with a magnetic adhesion device that filters the mineral magnetic force and selects it. At this time, the seabed mud rising at the same time as the ascending minerals may cause environmental damage, and the metal or mineral contained in the ascending mineral is made by a magnetic attachment device such as an electromagnet provided on the ore processing vessel. After that, the sea mud can be removed by the same method as that performed in the general sewage treatment by a sedimentation method or the like. That is, this system can make the work ship an ore processing ship equipped with a wastewater treatment device to cope with it.

Further, examples of the mineral having magnetic properties include iron, Chromium, nickel, cobalt. These minerals, all of which are valuable metals, can be efficiently collected from the seafloor ascending to the rising water at sea.

(11) The present invention can be configured as a mineral lift pipe, a double pipe structure made of a steel and a light alloy, a structure in which a steel pipe is reinforced with carbon fibers, or a structure in which a peripheral wall is hollow. At this time, the mineral lift pipe can be made lighter. Moreover, the biggest issue of the mineral lift system is how to reduce the weight of mineral jacks that reach thousands of meters in length. In order to reduce the weight of the mineral lift pipe, in addition to the method of imparting buoyancy to the mineral lift pipe as described above and reducing the substantial weight, there is a method of reducing the weight of the mineral lift pipe itself as in the present invention.

As a method of reducing the weight of the mineral lift pipe itself, for example, a method in which the mineral lift pipe is a light alloy or a steel double pipe structure and has an airtight space between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. In addition, it is possible to provide an airtight space in the peripheral wall, and to offset the weight of a part of the mineral lift pipe by the buoyancy, and to reduce the burden on the other parts of the weight of the mineral riser itself.

Further, as a method for reducing the weight of the mineral pipe itself, for example, the mineral pipe is made of steel, and the outer surface is made of a resin which is reinforced with carbon fiber. In addition, the resin-made reinforcing tube also contributes to the protection of the metal inner tube.

(12) The present invention is a method for ascending minerals by transporting a solid-liquid mixture containing minerals and seawater excavated and crushed under the sea floor or under the sea to a marine lift pipe at sea, by means of a float Buoyancy. By this method, the mineral lift pipe is not sinking to the bottom of the sea. In the case where the main float or the like floating on the sea surface is used as the support, since the required buoyancy can be imparted to the mineral lift pipe, for example, the same weight as the weight of the mineral lift pipe minus the buoyancy is used, thereby substantially It is possible to make the weight not act on the main float supporting the mineral riser. In addition, the buoyancy caused by the float is slightly smaller than the above, and the mineral riser can be made to be vertical and balanced.

Further, according to the present invention, the mineral lift pipe and the communication and power cables are supported by the float to reduce the gravity of the mineral lift pipe. Further, the present invention can include a large float, a metal large float floating on the sea surface and having a cavity therein, and a mineral lift pipe and a communication and power cable supported by the float, and Corresponding to the weight of the mineral lift pipe, it has a seawater discharge and a seawater intake valve for buoyancy adjustment.

In addition, by arranging (equipping) the waterproof battery of the large float and driving the pump to supply and drain the seawater to the hollow portion of the lower portion of the large float, the large float can have a diving function.

Further, in order to reduce the weight of the mineral lift pipe supported by the large float, it is also possible to provide a small float group in the middle of the mineral lift pipe equipped in the sea. Further, in order to reduce the weight and maintain the strength, it is also possible to provide a mineral lift pipe made of a resin reinforced with carbon fibers.

In order to reduce the weight, it is also possible to provide a mineral lift pipe having a cavity in the gap between the double pipes. It is a structure that can be separated from the ore processing vessel by a large-scale float supporting mineral lift pipe and a communication and power cable in a bad weather or when the offshore ore processing vessel is separated from the site.

Ability to install (equip) the ore handling pump in the seabed mine A stone mining machine that shortens the suction pipe system. In the middle portion of the mineral lift pipe, a pumping system for injecting pressurized water can also be provided in order to supply fluid energy.

Further, an electric or permanent magnet type magnet device for taking ore from seawater containing crushed ore (finely pulverized ore) of an ore processing ship transported to the sea by a mineral lift pipe may be provided. In addition, it is also possible to provide a device for performing drainage treatment after ore taking on an ore processing ship.

The present invention is capable of providing a mineral lifting system and a mineral lifting method, which are provided with a pumping system capable of transporting seawater containing crushed ore from a deep seabed to an ore processing vessel at sea, so as to descend to the deep seabed mineral The riser pipe does not fall off from the connection portion of the pipe body due to its own weight, and the ore processing ship or the like that supports it does not need to be large enough to ensure buoyancy, and is not required to be in a sea state such as a typhoon. Because the ore processing vessel is shaken by waves, the mineral lift pipe is damaged, and the mineral lift pipe does not need to be abandoned for refuge.

S‧‧‧Metal lifting system

1‧‧‧ mining unit

10‧‧‧Working ship

11‧‧‧Float

12‧‧‧ cable

120‧‧‧ cable

13‧‧‧Underwater machine

130‧‧‧ Tracked Traveling Machine

131‧‧‧Excavator

132‧‧‧ slurry pumping

2‧‧‧Metal lifting unit

20‧‧‧Main float

200‧‧‧ Sealed housing

201‧‧‧ Space Department

201a‧‧‧Upper Space Department

201b‧‧‧Department of Space

202‧‧‧through hole

203‧‧‧Isolation components

204‧‧‧Note drainage pump

205‧‧‧Battery

206‧‧‧Control panel

207‧‧‧GPS receiver

208‧‧‧ propulsion machine

209‧‧‧ gap

21‧‧‧Metal lift pipe

210‧‧‧pipe body

211, 212‧‧‧Flange

213‧‧‧ internal management

214‧‧‧External management

215‧‧‧ Space Department

210a‧‧‧pipe body

211a, 212a‧‧‧Flange

213a‧‧‧ internal management

214a‧‧‧External management

22‧‧‧Auxiliary float

220‧‧‧ Sealed housing

221‧‧‧ Space Department

222‧‧‧through hole

22a‧‧‧Auxiliary float

220a‧‧‧ Sealed housing

221a‧‧‧Space Department

225‧‧‧Reinforced ribs

226‧‧‧Connected components

229‧‧‧ gap

23‧‧‧Relay tube

24‧‧‧Pressure injection pump

240‧‧‧ cable

241‧‧‧Injection tube

242‧‧‧Float

243‧‧‧suspension cable

25‧‧‧Supply tube

26‧‧‧ cable

27‧‧‧GPS satellite

28‧‧‧Compressed coil spring

3‧‧‧ screening unit

30‧‧‧Mineral treatment ship

31‧‧‧Filter slot

311‧‧‧Rotating body

32‧‧‧Sedimentation tank

320‧‧‧ filter

33‧‧‧Water storage tank

330‧‧‧ pump

331‧‧‧ Filter

34‧‧‧ collection trough

340‧‧‧Waterwheel

35‧‧‧Drainage pipe

5‧‧‧mines

50‧‧‧Smashed minerals

[Fig. 1] is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of a mineral lifting system of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] shows the mineral riser tube caused by the main float and the auxiliary float A section of the suspension structure is omitted.

[Fig. 3] is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a structure of a main float and its vicinity.

[Fig. 4] is an explanatory view showing the structure of a waste water treatment device provided in a work ship used in a mineral lifting system.

[Fig. 5] is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a structure of a pipe body constituting a mineral lift pipe used in a mineral lifting system.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing another structure of a pipe body constituting a mineral lift pipe used in a mineral lifting system.

[Fig. 7] shows the structure of the auxiliary float, (a) is a longitudinal sectional explanatory view, and (b) is a cross-sectional explanatory view corresponding to A-A.

The embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 .

The mineral lifting system S is composed of: the mining unit 1 is for mining minerals on the seabed; the mineral lifting unit 2 is for lifting the mined minerals and seawater to the sea; and the screening unit 3 The mineral screening unit of the valuable mineral is screened from the solid-liquid mixture raised by the mineral lifting unit 2.

(excavation unit 1)

The mining unit 1 has a subsea working machine 13 that can be moved from the outside. The submarine working machine 13 has a crawler traveling machine 130 to And an excavator 131 carried on the upper portion thereof and a slurry pump 132 that sucks and presses the solid-liquid mixture containing the mineral obtained from the excavation and seawater. The subsea working machine 13 is a structure in which the respective parts are connected to each other at a high pressure in the deep seabed. The slurry pump 132 constitutes a pumping system together with each of the pressure injection pumps 24 described later.

The excavator 131 is capable of crushing and excavating minerals of the deposit by rotation or vibration of the drill bit at the front end. Moreover, the excavator can also adopt other structures. The slurry pump 132 is capable of squeezing a mixture of a mineral and seawater (solid-liquid mixture) which has been excavated and crushed, for example, a diagonal flow or a mixed flow type.

Further, the pressure feed capability of the slurry pump 132 is not particularly limited, and at least the ability to lift the solid-liquid mixture of seawater and pulverized minerals to the sea in cooperation with the pressure injection pump 24 as an auxiliary pump to be described later may be provided. At this time, for example, the transport energy from the slurry pump 132 to the lower portion of the mineral lift pipe 21 to be described later is supplied from the slurry pump 132, and the transport energy in the upper mineral lift pipe 21 can be set in the mineral A plurality of pressure injection pumps 24, which are described later as auxiliary pumps, are supplied in the middle of the riser pipe 21.

The subsea working machine 13 is connected to the crawler traveling machine 130, the excavator 131, and the slurry pump 132, and the cable 12 for supplying electric power as a power source is connected to the power receiving unit (the symbol is omitted). The end portion of the cable 12 on the sea side is connected to the float 11 floating on the sea surface, whereby the weight of the cable 12 is supported by the float 11. Moreover, in order to reduce the weight of the cable 12 applied to the float 11, it is also possible to mount the same as the mineral lift pipe 21 to be described later. An auxiliary float that imparts buoyancy.

The cable 12 connected to the float 11 is supplied with electric power via a cable 120 from a generator (not shown) that is a power supply unit that is carried by the work boat 10 as a mother ship. Further, it is also possible to provide, in addition to the cables 12 and 120, the control of the excavator 131 for performing the subsea working machine 13 between the control unit provided in the workboat 10, and the control of the crawler traveler 130. Or a signal cable (not shown) for exchanging signals such as control of the slurry pump 132.

(mineral lifting unit 2)

The mineral lift unit 2 has a mineral lift pipe 21. The mineral lift pipe 21 is connected to a plurality of pipe bodies 210 of a desired length and is formed to have a length of, for example, 5000 m, corresponding to the depth of the sea area as an object of the mineral lifting operation. Further, the structure of the pipe body 210 will be described in detail later. Further, the long-length mineral lift pipe 21 is attached to the main float 20 floating on the sea surface and is substantially connected. Further, the mineral lift pipe 21 is substantially connected to the auxiliary float 22 at a required interval in the longitudinal direction (in the present embodiment, each of the tubular bodies 210) on the sea side.

First, the structure of the main float 20 and the connection structure of the mineral lift pipe 21 to the main float 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 3 .

The main float 20 is a sealed casing 200 having a watertight and hollow structure. The outer shape of the sealed casing 200 is a so-called donut shape, and a space portion 201 having a circular shape in plan view is formed inside. Further, a central portion of the sealed casing 200 is provided with a circular hole shape which is separated from the space portion 201 by the wall portion. Through hole 202.

The space portion 201 in the sealed casing 200 is vertically divided in a liquid-tight state by the partition member 203 which is fixed over the entire circumference at almost the intermediate position in the vertical direction. In the upper space portion 201a, a water injection pump 204 that is fixed to the partition member 203 and constitutes a water injection and drainage device is disposed. Further, similarly, the battery 205 is placed and fixed to the partition member 203, and in the present embodiment, the battery 205 is a waterproof lithium battery, and electric power is supplied to the water discharge pump 204.

The battery 205 is connected to the control panel 206, and a cable 26 is connected to the control panel 206 from the outside. The cable 26 is connected to a generator (not shown) as a power supply unit that is carried by a mineral processing ship 30 to be described later, and the battery 205 stores electric power supplied from the generator.

The lower space portion 201b divided by the partition member 203 in the sealed casing 200 is a water storage tank, and the amount of water inside the lower space portion 201b can be adjusted by the water discharge pump 204 (the air amount can be adjusted as necessary). By adjusting the amount of water, it is possible to increase the buoyancy of the main float 20 itself to float on the sea surface as needed, or to reduce the buoyancy and to dive. Further, the diving system may be performed only by the main float 20, and the mineral lifting pipe 21 may be entirely provided, and may be appropriately selected.

On the upper surface of the sealed casing 200, a GPS receiver 207 that receives signals from the GPS satellites 27 is provided. The GPS receiver 207 is also supplied with power via the cable 26. Further, a plurality of pushers 208 constituting the position compensating device are attached to the lower surface of the sealed casing 200. The propeller 208 is driven by a motor to obtain a thrust by rotating the propeller structure.

Further, the position compensating device includes the control panel 206 as a control unit that compares position information obtained by the GPS receiver with position information of a predetermined reference, and advances each of the positions based on the difference. Machine 208 operates to compensate for the position. Each of the pushers 208 is supplied with electric power from the battery 205, and each of the pushers 208 is driven by an appropriate combination of automatic control by GPS, whereby the main float 20 can be moved in a desired direction at sea.

The through hole 202 of the sealed casing 200 passes through the tubular body 210 having the upper end portion of the mineral lift pipe 21. The tubular body 210 constituting a plurality of the mineral lift pipes 21 has the structure shown in Fig. 5. The tubular body 210 has flanges 211 and 212 for connection in two stages in the longitudinal direction, and the tube portion is formed by a double tube structure formed by the inner tube 213 and the outer tube 214. A space portion 215 having a circular tube shape for generating buoyancy for weight reduction is formed between the inner tube 213 and the outer tube 214.

Moreover, the outer diameter of the outer tube 214 of the tubular body 210 is formed to be smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 202 of the sealed casing 200, and a gap 209 is provided between the tubular body 210 and the through hole 202. In addition, the flange 211 of the uppermost tubular body 210 (which is inserted through the through hole 202 and then mounted) is located on the upper side of the sealed casing 200, and is disposed between the upper surface of the sealed casing 200 and the flange 211. The upper side gradually reduces the diameter of the compression coil spring 28.

With this configuration, the tubular body 210 and the plurality of tubular bodies 210 connected thereto are damped by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 28 even when moving up and down, and the rush against the primary float 20 can be alleviated. Hit or a larger load. In addition, the tubular body 210 can be moved or shaken within a certain range within the through hole 202 by the action of the gap 209. Further, a flexible supply pipe 25 is connected to the upper end of the pipe body 210 at the upper end portion, and the front end side of the supply pipe 25 is introduced into the screening unit 3 to be described later.

The mineral lift pipe 21 is a watertight joint of a plurality of pipe bodies 210 as described above, and is connected at one end of the lowermost pipe body 210 to one end of a flexible relay pipe 23 of a desired length. . The other end of the relay pipe 23 is connected to the discharge port (not shown) of the slurry pump 132. Further, the suction port (not shown) of the slurry pump 132 is disposed in the vicinity of the drill of the excavator 131, and can attract the mined and broken mineral together with the seawater.

Further, as described above, the long metal canopy tube 21 is attached to the respective tubular bodies 210 in the longitudinal direction of each sea side, and the upper flange 211 is attached to the auxiliary float 22 to be substantially connected. The auxiliary float 22 is a sealed casing 220 having a watertight and hollow structure. The outer shape of the sealed casing 220 is a so-called donut shape, and a space portion 221 having a circular shape in plan view is formed inside. Further, a through hole 222 having a circular hole shape separated from the space portion 221 by the wall portion is formed in a central portion of the sealed casing 220.

The outer diameter of the outer tube 214 of the tubular body 210 is formed to be smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 222 of the sealed casing 220, and a gap 229 is formed between the tubular body 210 and the through hole 222. Further, although the auxiliary float 22 does not have a specific structure, it is a structure (conventional structure) that can be attached and detachable from a portion of the tube that is fitted into the tubular body 210 from the lateral direction.

With this configuration, a plurality of auxiliary floats 22 are attached to each tube. When the body 210 moves up and down, it is also possible to slide the respective tubular bodies 210 relatively, and the auxiliary floats 22 stop sliding against each other when the flanges 211 of the tubular body 210 or the injection pipes 241 of the pressure injection pump 24 described later are stopped. shift. Since the auxiliary float 22 and each of the tubular bodies 210 are retractable from each other, it is difficult to apply an impact or a large load. In addition, the tubular body 210 can swim or swing within a certain range inside the through hole 202 by the action of the gap 229.

Further, each of the auxiliary floats 22 is capable of imparting a desired buoyancy to the mineral lift pipe 21. The buoyancy is set to be, for example, the same as the weight of the mineral lift pipe 21, so that the weight of the mineral lift pipe 21 is hardly applied to the main float 20. Further, the buoyancy is made slightly smaller than the weight of the mineral lift pipe 21, and the weighting of the mineral lift pipe 21 is applied to the main float 20 to make the mineral lift pipe 21 more stable in the sea. Further, the auxiliary float 22 located in the deep sea may have a rib structure that is useful for reinforcement in the same manner as the auxiliary float 22a described later so as to be able to withstand high water pressure.

Further, among the tubes 210 constituting the mineral lift pipe 21, injection pipes connected to the discharge ports (symbols omitted) of the respective pressure injection pumps 24 are connected to the tubes of the pipe body 210 arranged at desired intervals. 241. Each of the pressure injection pumps 24 sucks the surrounding seawater and injects it into the inside of the mineral lift pipe 21, and helps the moving water (solid-liquid mixture) passing through the mineral lift pipe 21 to be moved upward (pressure feed).

Further, each of the pressure injection pumps 24 is maintained at a desired depth by the buoyancy of the float 242 connected by the suspension cable 243. In addition, for each pressure injection pump 24, it is connected to the mineral as a work ship. Power is supplied to the cable 240 of the generator of the ship 30. In addition, the cable 240 may also be provided with a float for imparting buoyancy.

Further, the cable 120 that connects the workboat 10 and the float 11 is a structure that can be separated from the float 11. Further, the mineral processing ship 30 is configured to be able to cut off the supply pipe 25 and the cable 26 from the main float 20. Thereby, for example, when the work boat 10 or the mineral processing ship 30 is docked, it can be detached from the work area in a returnable state.

(Screening unit 3)

The aforementioned screening unit 3 is carried on the mineral processing vessel 30. The mineral processing vessel 30 carries a generator (not shown) that supplies electric power to the main float 20 and the respective pressure injection pumps 24. The screening unit 3 screens the valuable minerals from the solid-liquid mixture of the seawater ascended by the mineral lifting unit 2 and the pulverized mineral.

Refer to Figure 4. A treatment method of the solid-liquid mixture containing the pulverized mineral 50 of the mineral processing ship 30 which rises in the mineral lift pipe 21 and reaches the sea through the supply pipe 25 will be described.

The screening unit 3 is provided with a screening tank 31, a sedimentation tank 32, a water storage tank 33, and a collection tank 34 in the order of treatment. Further, the sedimentation tank 32, the water storage tank 33, and the collection tank 34 constitute a waste water treatment device.

The solid-liquid mixture containing the pulverized mineral 50 from the supply pipe 25 is sent to the screening tank 31. The pulverized mineral 50 as a magnetic body is collected by magnetic force attached to an electromagnet (not shown) attached to the tip end of the arm portion of the rotator 311. Also, non-magnetic Other valuable minerals of the minerals can be collected by various conventional means, for example, using a sieve or the like.

Further, the seawater containing the sludge passing through the screening tank 31 is transported to the sedimentation tank 32 through the screen 320, and the sludge is precipitated to the bottom of the tank to be separated. Further, the seawater from which the sludge is removed is transported to the water storage tank 33 through the sieve 331 and is transported to the next collecting tank 34 by the pump 330. In the collection tank 34, finer sludge is precipitated and removed by chemical treatment or the like, and the treated clear seawater is discharged to the outside (sea) through the drain pipe 35 by the waterwheel 340.

(effect)

The case where the action of the mineral hoisting system S of the present invention is performed to carry out the work of raising valuable minerals in the deep sea to the sea will be described as an example.

The mineral lifting system S is as shown in Fig. 1, and the subsea working machine 13 is disposed on a predetermined deep sea floor 4 having a deposit 5, and the main float 20 is floating at sea.

The submarine working machine 13 is operated by the electric power supplied from the cable 120 by the signal from the control unit of the workboat 10, and the crawler traveling machine 130 is excavated by the excavator 131 while moving. The mixture of the fractured mineral 50 (shown in Fig. 4) and seawater (solid-liquid mixture) is attracted by the slurry pump 132 in parallel with the excavation, and is passed through the mineral lift pipe 21 from the relay pipe 23. Press it upwards. At this time, in the vertical direction path of the mineral lift pipe 21, the energy caused by the water flow is injected by the plurality of pressure injection pumps 24, and the solid-liquid mixture is lifted up to the upper side. The screening unit 3 of the side mineral processing vessel 30 is treated, and only the clear treated water is discarded into the sea.

Further, a plurality of auxiliary floats 22 are connected to the mineral lift pipe 21, and a predetermined buoyancy is given to the mineral lift pipe 21. In the mineral hoisting system S, the mineral hoisting pipe 21 of a length of several thousands m is imparted with the main float 20 and the auxiliary float 22 so that the mineral hoisting pipe 21 does not fall to the sea floor 4 Buoyancy. The auxiliary float 22 is disposed in a desired number (majority) in the longitudinal direction of the mineral lift pipe 21, so that the weights of the respective tubular bodies 210 of the mineral lift pipe 21 are shared and supported by the auxiliary floats 22. .

That is, when the auxiliary float 22 is attached at a desired interval in the longitudinal direction of the mineral lift pipe 21, if each auxiliary float 22 gives the weight of the mineral lift pipe 21 to the length between the auxiliary floats 22, The amount of buoyancy is theoretically such that the load of the elongated mineral riser 21 does not act on the upper portion of the mineral riser 21.

As described above, when the auxiliary float 22 is given an appropriate buoyancy, a large load that is biased toward a part of the gravity direction is not applied in the longitudinal direction of the mineral lift pipe 21. Therefore, the above configuration is also effective in the sense that the load is applied to the longitudinal direction of the mineral lift pipe 21 at a desired interval. Further, by this, it is possible to prevent the mineral lift pipe 21 from being broken from the middle due to its own large load, or to prevent the connection portion of the pipe body 210 from being damaged, so that the mineral lift pipe 21 is not dropped to the sea floor.

Further, the total buoyancy of the main float 20 and the auxiliary floats 22 that float the mineral lift pipe 21 is appropriately set, but it is not necessary. There is a buoyancy in which the uppermost main float 20 floats on the sea surface, and at least the state in which the lower end portion of the mineral lift pipe 21 is not dropped to the sea floor is maintained, that is, the state in which it does not sink and floats in the sea is floated. The buoyancy is better. In addition, even if the lower end side of the mineral lift pipe 21 is in contact with the sea floor, buoyancy in a state in which the upper side is maintained in the longitudinal direction of the sea is preferable.

Further, the mineral lift pipe as the weight is provided with buoyancy by the main float and each auxiliary float, and the working ship 10 or the mineral processing ship 30 which is controlled by the mineral lifting system does not necessarily support the mineral lift pipe. Therefore, there is no need to enlarge the ship.

Further, the substantial weight of the mineral lift pipe 21 is heavier in the system operation because the weight of the solid-liquid mixture conveyed inside is added. Therefore, the setting of the buoyancy by the floats 20 and 22 is not set based on the weight of the empty mineral lifting pipe 21, and it is necessary to consider the above points.

Further, the main float 20 adjusts the amount of water inside by the drain pump 204, whereby the buoyancy can be adjusted. By, for example, a part of the main float 20 can be exposed from the sea surface as a submarine, or all of it can sink below the sea surface. In addition, it is also possible to adjust the height (depth) of the main float 20 below the sea surface when sinking.

If the main float 20 sinks below the surface of the sea, the main float 20 is less susceptible to waves. For example, in a typhoon, or in a bad weather when the typhoon is approaching, if the main float 20 still floats on the surface of the sea, it will be affected by the violent waves and will move up and down or laterally to make it connected to the main float. The mounting portion of the mineral lift pipe 21 of the sub- 20 or the peripheral portion thereof is more likely to be deformed or broken.

In addition, the waves generated on the sea surface are mostly several m to 10 m below the sea surface. If the main float 20 is remotely supported by the upper portion of the mineral lift pipe 21, it floats deeper than it, and the main The float 20 can be floated afterwards, and it can be hardly affected by waves even in a typhoon.

Further, the main float 20 includes a GPS receiver 207 and a pusher 208, and is capable of maintaining the position of the predetermined mineral lift system S by using GPS. That is, the position information indicating the position of the mineral lift system is obtained by the GPS receiver 207 provided in the main float 20, and the position information set as a reference and the position acquired by the GPS receiver 207 are set in advance. Information is compared by position compensation means.

In addition, according to the difference, the position of the main float 20 is maintained by the position compensating means so as to maintain the position (set position) as a reference or to approach (direct) the position as a reference. 208 operates to compensate for the position. Further, the compensation for this position may be continued during the operation of the mineral lift system S, and may be performed at regular intervals (intermittently).

Further, the subsea working machine 13 can be placed, for example, in a water depth of several thousand m, containing not only valuable minerals such as noble metals or rare metals present under the sea floor 4 or the sea floor, but also methane hydrates as fossil fuels. The sea floor of a region with many useful resources, such as surface layer methane hydrate, is used. The mineral lift system S can also be used as a system A system for raising useful resources other than such minerals from the deep sea to the sea.

Refer to Figure 6. Fig. 6 is a view showing another configuration of a pipe body constituting a mineral lift pipe used in a mineral lifting system.

The tube body 210a is a double tube structure in which the tube 214a is made of a steel inner tube 213a and reinforced with carbon fibers and integrated with an acrylic resin. Thereby, the weight of the pipe body 210a is lightened, and the tensile strength is increased. Flanges 211a and 212a are provided at both end portions of the tubular body 210a. By combining the steel inner tube 213a having sufficient strength and the lightweight and strong outer tube 214a, the predetermined strength can be maintained on the one hand, and the weight equivalent to the tube body 210 can be suppressed.

Refer to Figure 7. The auxiliary float 22a shown in Fig. 7 has a sealed casing 220a formed in a watertight shape and having a cylindrical outer shape. The space portion 221a inside the sealed casing 220a is provided by fixing the reinforcing ribs 225 of the longitudinal and lateral ribs to the inner surface of the sealed casing 220a. Further, the auxiliary float 22a is attached to the mineral lifting pipe 21 via the connecting member 226. Thereby, the mineral lifting pipe 21 is given a predetermined buoyancy.

Further, the auxiliary float 22a is provided with the reinforcing rib 225 inside, so that the space portion can be secured without being crushed under high pressure in the deep sea, so that the predetermined buoyancy can be maintained.

The terms and expressions used in the specification and claims are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive, and do not exclude the words and equivalents of the features described in the specification and claims. The intention of performance. In addition, the scope of the technical idea of the present invention Within the perimeter, there are a variety of morphological features that can be used.

S‧‧‧Metal lifting system

1‧‧‧ mining unit

2‧‧‧Metal lifting unit

3‧‧‧ screening unit

4‧‧‧ Deep sea bottom

5‧‧‧mines

10‧‧‧Working ship

11‧‧‧Float

12‧‧‧ cable

13‧‧‧Underwater machine

20‧‧‧Main float

21‧‧‧Metal lift pipe

22‧‧‧Auxiliary float

23‧‧‧Relay tube

24‧‧‧Pressure injection pump

25‧‧‧Supply tube

26‧‧‧ cable

27‧‧‧GPS satellite

30‧‧‧Mineral treatment ship

120‧‧‧ cable

130‧‧‧ Tracked Traveling Machine

131‧‧‧Excavator

132‧‧‧ slurry pumping

207‧‧‧GPS receiver

208‧‧‧ propulsion machine

210‧‧‧pipe body

240‧‧‧ cable

241‧‧‧Injection tube

242‧‧‧Float

Claims (12)

A mineral lifting system is provided with: a submarine working machine capable of moving and operating, which has an excavation part for excavating minerals under the sea floor or under the sea floor, and a solid-liquid mixture containing minerals and seawater obtained by excavation is sucked and pumped. a pump; a power supply unit having a cable for supplying power to the subsea working machine as a power source; the main float having a required buoyancy and floating at sea or in the sea; a mineral riser having a desired length Connecting the primary float to the pump of the subsea working machine, and transporting the solid-liquid mixture containing mineral and seawater drawn by the pump to the main float side; the auxiliary float is attached to the mineral riser The length direction is configured at a desired interval and imparts the required buoyancy to the aforementioned mineral lift pipe; and the mineral screening portion selects minerals from the solid-liquid mixture conveyed to the aforementioned main float side by the aforementioned mineral lift pipe and collects the minerals . The mineral lifting system according to claim 1, wherein the pumping slurry of the aforementioned subsea working machine is pumped. The mineral lifting system according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary pumping unit is configured to inject a liquid flow for a required pressure for assisting the conveyance of the solid-liquid mixture to a desired portion of the mineral lift pipe. The mineral lifting system according to claim 1, wherein: the GPS receiver; and the position compensation device compare the position information received by the GPS receiver with a predetermined position of the mineral lifting system. And the position is compensated in such a way as to maintain the set position. Reimbursement. The mineral lifting system according to claim 1, further comprising: a water injection and drainage device that adjusts the buoyancy of the float by injecting water into the main float and draining the outside. The mineral lift system according to claim 1, comprising a work boat having the power supply unit and the mineral screening unit, and a cable constituting the power supply unit and the mineral screening unit The mineral lift pipe receives the feed pipe of the solid-liquid mixture, and is capable of being cut away in a state in which the system can resume operation. The mineral lifting system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the main float to which the mineral lifting pipe is connected is provided with a suspension device supporting the mineral lifting pipe, and the mineral lifting near the suspension device The tube is capable of vibrating in a desired swing range within the gap through which the mineral riser tube passes. The mineral lift system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary float is configured at a desired interval in the longitudinal direction of the cable, thereby imparting a desired buoyancy to the cable. The mineral lifting system according to claim 1, wherein the mineral screening unit is provided with a wastewater treatment device. The mineral hoisting system according to claim 1, wherein the wastewater treatment device is provided with a magnetic attachment device that allows magnetic minerals to adhere to each other and is screened. The mineral lifting system according to claim 1, wherein the mineral pipe, the steel pipe and the light alloy double pipe structure, the steel pipe The structure is reinforced with carbon fiber or has a hollow wall structure. A method of mineral lifting is to impart a desired buoyancy force to a mineral lift pipe that transports a solid-liquid mixture containing minerals and seawater excavated and crushed under the sea floor or under the sea to the sea.