SEABED RESOURCE LIFTING DEVICE

摘要

Provided is a seabed-resource lifting device causing deep-sea mud that contains rare-earth elements to rise from depths of 5000 m or more. This seabed-resource lifting device includes: a transport hose that includes a first hose and a second hose and that hangs from a resource-recovery vessel to the seabed; a crawler-type collector that includes a first suction chamber that sends mud from the seabed to the first hose, and a second suction chamber that sends mud from the seabed to the second hose; a water electrolyzer that, using electricity supplied from the resource-recovery vessel, electrolyzes water so as to generate hydrogen gas and oxygen gas; and a gas-injection device that injects the generated hydrogen gas and oxygen gas into the first suction chamber and the second suction chamber, respectively. Mud that contains rare-earth elements rises with sea water due to the buoyancy of the hydrogen gas or oxygen gas.

主权项

1. A seabed-resource lifting device comprising:
a transport hose that consists of a first hose and a second hose and that is hung from a resource-recovery vessel to the seabed; a crawler-type collector that includes a first suction chamber that sends mud on the seabed to the first hose, and a second suction chamber that sends mud on the seabed to the second hose; a water electrolyzer that, by using electric power supplied from the resource-recovery vessel, electrolyzes water so as to generate hydrogen gas and oxygen gas; and a gas-injection device that injects, into the first suction chamber and the second suction chamber, respectively, the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas that have been generated, whereby the buoyancy of the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas causes the mud that contains rare-earth elements to rise together with the seawater.