Academic Journal
Flow mechanism study on underwater mineral preliminary separation system for deep-sea mining.
| Title: | Flow mechanism study on underwater mineral preliminary separation system for deep-sea mining. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Li, Xiaoyao, Lin, Hai, Fu, Mengdi, Li, Meng, Shen, Yijun, Du, Yanlian |
| Source: | Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences & Engineering; Aug2026, Vol. 48 Issue 8, p1-18, 18p |
| Subject Terms: | Separation (Technology), Multiphase flow, Machine separators, Particle size distribution, Energy consumption, Ocean mining, Mineral processing, Computational fluid dynamics |
| Abstract: | The extraction of polymetallic nodules from the deep sea offers a promising source of critical metals, but the hydrodynamic process of in-situ ore pre-concentration remains a significant challenge. This study proposes an integrated pre-separation system that combines a hydrocyclone with a buffer station to achieve efficient mineral enrichment underwater through multiphase flow separation. Using an orthogonal experimental design and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), we systematically investigate the influence of key geometric parameters—cone angle, vortex finder length, and cylindrical section length—on the internal flow field and separation performance. Results demonstrate that a cone angle of 20° effectively minimizes fine particle entrainment by stabilizing the vortex core and suppressing short-circuit flow. An optimized configuration (80 mm overflow depth, 90 mm cylinder length) achieves a separation efficiency of 85.1%, balancing particle residence time and turbulent dissipation. Flow field analysis reveals that the tangential velocity profile and axial pressure gradient are the primary mechanisms governing particle classification. Smaller cone angles enhance separation selectivity by intensifying the centrifugal force field and sharpening the distinction between free and forced vortices. Experimental validation using an air-lift system confirms that the pre-concentration stage significantly improves hydraulic transport efficiency, reducing slurry lifting energy consumption by over 50% due to decreased solid load and frictional pressure drop in the vertical pipeline. This work establishes a fluid-mechanical basis for the application of hydrocyclone-based pre-separation in deep-sea mining, supporting more energy-efficient and sustainable resource recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences & Engineering is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Complementary Index |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1007/s40430-026-06523-2 Name: EDS - Springer Nature Journals (s7799221) Category: fullText Text: View record at Springer – Url: https://resolver.ebsco.com/c/fiv2js/result?sid=EBSCO:edb&genre=article&issn=16785878&ISBN=&volume=48&issue=8&date=20260801&spage=1&pages=1-18&title=Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences & Engineering&atitle=Flow%20mechanism%20study%20on%20underwater%20mineral%20preliminary%20separation%20system%20for%20deep-sea%20mining.&aulast=Li%2C%20Xiaoyao&id=DOI:10.1007/s40430-026-06523-2 Name: Full Text Finder (for New FTF UI) (ns324271) Category: fullText Text: Full Text Finder MouseOverText: Full Text Finder |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Flow mechanism study on underwater mineral preliminary separation system for deep-sea mining. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Xiaoyao%22">Li, Xiaoyao</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lin%2C+Hai%22">Lin, Hai</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fu%2C+Mengdi%22">Fu, Mengdi</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Meng%22">Li, Meng</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shen%2C+Yijun%22">Shen, Yijun</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Du%2C+Yanlian%22">Du, Yanlian</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences & Engineering; Aug2026, Vol. 48 Issue 8, p1-18, 18p – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Separation+%28Technology%29%22">Separation (Technology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multiphase+flow%22">Multiphase flow</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Machine+separators%22">Machine separators</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Particle+size+distribution%22">Particle size distribution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Energy+consumption%22">Energy consumption</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ocean+mining%22">Ocean mining</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mineral+processing%22">Mineral processing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computational+fluid+dynamics%22">Computational fluid dynamics</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The extraction of polymetallic nodules from the deep sea offers a promising source of critical metals, but the hydrodynamic process of in-situ ore pre-concentration remains a significant challenge. This study proposes an integrated pre-separation system that combines a hydrocyclone with a buffer station to achieve efficient mineral enrichment underwater through multiphase flow separation. Using an orthogonal experimental design and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), we systematically investigate the influence of key geometric parameters—cone angle, vortex finder length, and cylindrical section length—on the internal flow field and separation performance. Results demonstrate that a cone angle of 20° effectively minimizes fine particle entrainment by stabilizing the vortex core and suppressing short-circuit flow. An optimized configuration (80 mm overflow depth, 90 mm cylinder length) achieves a separation efficiency of 85.1%, balancing particle residence time and turbulent dissipation. Flow field analysis reveals that the tangential velocity profile and axial pressure gradient are the primary mechanisms governing particle classification. Smaller cone angles enhance separation selectivity by intensifying the centrifugal force field and sharpening the distinction between free and forced vortices. Experimental validation using an air-lift system confirms that the pre-concentration stage significantly improves hydraulic transport efficiency, reducing slurry lifting energy consumption by over 50% due to decreased solid load and frictional pressure drop in the vertical pipeline. This work establishes a fluid-mechanical basis for the application of hydrocyclone-based pre-separation in deep-sea mining, supporting more energy-efficient and sustainable resource recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: Abstract Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences & Engineering is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s40430-026-06523-2 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 18 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Separation (Technology) Type: general – SubjectFull: Multiphase flow Type: general – SubjectFull: Machine separators Type: general – SubjectFull: Particle size distribution Type: general – SubjectFull: Energy consumption Type: general – SubjectFull: Ocean mining Type: general – SubjectFull: Mineral processing Type: general – SubjectFull: Computational fluid dynamics Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Flow mechanism study on underwater mineral preliminary separation system for deep-sea mining. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Li, Xiaoyao – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lin, Hai – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Fu, Mengdi – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Li, Meng – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Shen, Yijun – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Du, Yanlian IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 08 Text: Aug2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 16785878 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 48 – Type: issue Value: 8 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences & Engineering Type: main |
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