CFD-DEM Simulation of Erosion Degradation Mechanisms in Deep-Sea Mining Pipelines

Abstract

As terrestrial mineral resources continue to diminish, the global focus has significantly shifted toward deep-sea mining, driven by the escalating demand for critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Among various extraction methods, the pipe lifting technique has gained prominence owing to its substantial commercial viability. Nevertheless, this method faces significant operational challenges, including intricate flow dynamics, pipe wall erosions, and blockages caused by the continuous transport of particulate matter. This study investigates the influence of mineral particle size, the slurry velocity, volume fraction, and shear modulus on pipeline erosion. To enhance the precision of erosion prediction, a solid-liquid coupling optimization model was developed utilizing the Gaussian volume distribution method. Orthogonal experiments and single-factor analyses revealed that the slurry velocity and mineral particle size predominantly influence the erosion rate. The findings of this study elucidate the underlying mechanisms of pipeline erosion in deep-sea mining operations and offer crucial data for the advancement and design of deep-sea transportation systems.

Keywords

Deep-sea mining pipeline / Erosion prediction / Liquid-solid flow / Coarse mineral particles / High volume fraction slurry

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Harbin Engineering University and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature