专利摘要:
The present invention relates to a method for determining an efficient recovery of solid material from a seabed (10) using a vessel (1) equipped with a dredging unit (3) for removing a suspension of solid material of the seabed (12), the method comprising the steps of i) measuring the rate at which the solid material is recovered, ie the processing capacity, and ii) determining an efficient extraction if the processing capacity is above a certain level. It also relates to a method for drawing up a survey card, a device and a computer program that implements the method.
公开号:BE1018431A3
申请号:E2007/0025
申请日:2007-01-22
公开日:2010-11-09
发明作者:Nick Heude;Bart Verboomen
申请人:Dredging Int;
IPC主号:
专利说明:

METHOD FOR DRAINING THE SEA BOTTOM
Aggregate products such as sand and gravel are usually produced by mining this soil. A vessel equipped with a dredging unit can be used, the dredging unit being able to topple the seabed using an agitator and bring the resulting slurry to the surface through a suction pipe. The solid material is then separated from the water that is returned to the sea. The dredged solid material is retained. Alternatively, the pumped suspension can be transported via a pipeline to another location, and the desired product can be separated at the alternative location.
The solid material obtained by dredging is processed by extracting the desired components such as sand and gravel. Other components can also be extracted, such as clay, larger particles, etc.
A problem with obtaining solid material from places off the coast is the cost of the operation. The increase in demand for building materials has reduced prices for aggregates to a minimum defensible level. This has meant finding ways to increase the feasibility of sea mining. This can mean, for example, avoiding excessive excavation of the seabeds and achieving the maximum payload for a vessel in the shortest possible time. The environmental impact of seabed mining that may affect currents, erosion and retreat from the coast and the quality of fauna, flora and water in the mining area is also a concern.
The object of the present invention is to provide a method for recovering solid materials from the seabed, which is cost-effective and less environmentally harmful. /
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. Schematic representation of a vessel equipped with an underwater dredging unit.
FIG. 2. Block diagram of a marine integrated computer system.
FIG. 3. Image of the screen of a human-machine interface workstation implementing the present invention.
FIG. 4. Display of the screen of a survey computer implementing the current invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for mining this seabed using a floating vessel, equipped with a dredging unit for removing material from the seabed, which method controls the amount of a suspension of solid material recovered from the seabed over an interim period cf. the processing capacity. If the processing capacity that is followed during the extraction is above a threshold value, the extraction is considered as an efficiency; below the threshold it is considered inefficient. An efficient extraction means that extraction is profitable and / or has a low environmental impact. The suitable areas for extraction can thus be determined.
The method can be used to make a real-time assessment; thus, during a extraction by a dredging vessel, it is determined whether or not to continue in the same area, or to extract from another area. The threshold can be set to go further only with a low environmental impact or with an advantageous extraction or both.
It can also be used to prepare an excavation map of an area that indicates suitable and unsuitable extraction areas. An area of the seabed can be explored in a short time using the method to get an overview of the best and poorest areas. After suitable planning, the dredging vessel can return to carry out a complete extraction of the most designated seabed areas, to plan the extraction schedule and to sail efficiently using the map prepared during the survey.
The method allows to continue dredging when sufficient release material is available. Compact or deep-lying sand, which requires extensive extraction, may fall below the threshold, which would stop extraction. Thus, this bottom is somewhat protected by refraining from a deep excavation. The environmental impact of mining is limited by limiting extraction to areas with relatively loose material. In these areas there is not much marine life present. Therefore, implementing the current method reduces the environmental impact, while the excavation is limited to loose material, which is more cost-effective to recover.
The current method follows various parameters during extraction to obtain automatic and value for the processing capacity. There is no need to make manual adjustments to take into account the height of this bottom, the contact with the sea, or the position of the suction pipe, since these are implemented automatically in the method. Thus, a dredging vessel active can go over a seabed, in a survey campaign or in a extraction process, and indicate a processing capacity, while conditions such as rough sea and variable depth of the seabed, which could otherwise affect the measurements, are taken into account in the calculation.
Vessel and dredging unit
The various embodiments of the present invention are made with reference to FIG. 1. The embodiments below and the drawing are not intended to be limiting at all. The person skilled in the art can adapt the current method and the substituent components and elements according to the ordinary practices of the person skilled in the art. When the seabed is reclaimed according to the present invention, use is made of a dredging unit 3 suspended from vessel 1, which moves over this floor 12 mainly in accordance with the movements of the vessel 1. Solid material present on the seabed 12 is optionally rolled over, and a suspension thereof is aspirated and deposited on the vessel 1 for storage and / or processing. A pipe 2, suspended from vessel 1, couples the underwater dredging unit 3 to extraction pumps 13 located on vessel 1, through which extracted material flows from the seabed 12.
The dredging unit 3 is equipped with a suction nozzle 4 for receiving loosened solid material and water, i.e. the suspension. The material can be loose, or can be loosened by the contact of the dredging unit 4 with the seabed 12, for example due to the dragging effect of the unit over the seabed by the vessel. Debagger unit 4 can optionally be provided with means for loosening the seabed 12, which means release solid material for further absorption by the suction mouth 4. The agitation means can be any suitable means, for example, water jets, rotating metal blades, compressed air, or metal spoons. To minimize the impact on the environment and to minimize wear and maintenance, water jets can be the most suitable agitation agents.
The position of the dredging unit 3 can be adjustable independently of the position of the vessel to allow an accurate control of the position of the unit. The independent movement can be obtained, for example, by the use of local (underwater) hydraulic connections or by drive means located in the underwater dredging unit 3.
As already mentioned above, the dredging unit 3 is connected to the vessel 1 by means of a pipe 2. The pipe 2, and the associated power cables and / or tubes 11, can be the only necessary means for attaching to the vessel 1, wattage and durability requires pipe 2 and connections. The pipe 2 can be flexible, in which case the pipe 2 is preferably suspended substantially horizontally from the vessel by means of cables 8, 9 which are unwound or wound with winches 5,6 present on the vessel 1. A pipe 2 which is a has a similar long length, can be supported by placing a pair of spaced cables 8, 9 by placing pipe 2 in the longitudinal direction of the vessel. When the vessel 1 has arrived at the desired location, the pipe 2 can be lowered by unwinding cables 8, 9 with the aid of winches 5, 6. The position of the underwater pipe can be horizontal or at an angle with the sea surface as in FIG. 1 is indicated.
Swing compensation
Underwater, the flexible pipe 2 is preferably suspended close to the seabed 12, e.g. 1 to 3 m at the lowest point above the seabed, while the dredging unit 3 can make contact with the seabed 12. The cables 8, 9 connected to the pipe 2 are constantly adjusted by a swell compensator so that the weight of the pipe 2 is compensated by the tensile force in the cables 8, 9. When the vessel goes down, the pipe 2 remains substantially at the same distance from the seabed 12 thanks to the system. Such swell compensation systems are known in the dredging area, and may, for example, be the DEICO system.
On the other hand, the dredging unit 3 may make contact with the seabed 12. Thus, a separate cable 10 may be connected to the dredging unit 3, which allows the dredging unit. the dredging unit 3 makes contact with the seabed 12. The same swell compensation device can be implemented in the cable 10 which is attached to the dredging unit 3, such an apparatus maintains the contact of the dredging unit 3 with this bottom 12, and can indicate when the dredging unit 3 does not make contact with the seabed 12.
Calculating the processing capacity in one place
The present invention determines the processing capacity that is obtained during extraction at a specific location by following: i) the volume of the water and solid material suspension obtained during a certain time, i.e. the suspension speed, which is measured in volume per time unit {e.g. m3 / h), and ii) the mass of solid material present in the suspension, i.e., the suspension concentration, which is measured in mass per volume of suspension units (e.g. kg / m3 or ton / m3).
The suspension rate (i) can be measured using in-line detectors present in the pump or tubing, giving a real-time indication. Alternatively, they can be determined by monitoring the change in level of the suspension in the on-board storage tanks and recording the time. The suspension concentration (ii) can also be measured by means of in-line detectors that calculate a ratio of the solid matter over the water in the stream. Alternatively, it can be determined by following the changing mass in the storage tanks as they are filled, and comparing the mass with the mass expected for the same volume of seawater. Other techniques and devices for measuring (i) and (ii) are known can be implemented in the art in the present invention.
From (i) and (ii) the recovery rate of solid material is obtained, i.e. the processing capacity at a given location. It can be measured, for example inkg / hour or ton / hour. From the processing capacity, it can be determined whether the material is sufficiently loose to ensure a profitable extraction / extraction with a low environmental impact, or whether a different location should be chosen.
Calculating the processing capacity for a moving vessel When the extraction is carried out at the moment that the vessel 1 moves, the calculation of the processing capacity is disturbed due to periods when dredging unit 3 is not in contact with the seabed 12. The loss of contact may occur for example, due to the stomping of the vessel 1. The inventors have discovered that following the swell compensator connected to the cable 10 attached to the dredging unit 3 gives an indication of contact with the seabed 12. Rather than trying to to compensate for each episode of the loss of contact by celebrating more cable, or introducing a linear correction factor, the inventors have found that it is most efficient to set a threshold for implementing the swell compensation for only major changes in the depth of the seabed. . Thus, for smaller variations in depth of the seabed, data on the mixture concentration and the mixing speed are ignored during periods in which the dredging unit 3 does not make contact with this bottom 12.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described herein wherein the data on the mixture concentration and the mixing speed is ignored during periods in which the dredging unit 3 does not contact the seabed 12. Thus, the calculation of the processing capacity can be derived from data collected at intervals. The state of contact of the dredger unit 3 with the seabed 12 can be determined from the swell compensation device, e.g. the DEICO system.
Drawing up a sun / ey card
The data on the processing capacity can advantageously be indicated on a survey map of an area. The survey map allows an operator to extract this soil very efficiently using a planned route, and also to estimate the time it would take to obtain the useful load limit. When the survey location is large, and areas of suitable material are located at individual, individual locations, such a map can indicate the feasibility of a complete or targeted extraction.
While the processing capacity is being measured, the position of the vessel is known with the help of a satellite navigation system such as, for example, global positioning satelliteSystem (GPS), Galileo, Beidou, etc. Such a navigation system is routinely present on ships. However, since the position of the dredging unit 3 may differ significantly from the position of the satellite receiver on the vessel 1, a correction to the coordinate of the vessel 1 is applied in the present invention to obtain more accurate coordinates of the dredging unit 3.
The deviation of the dredging unit 3 from the satellite receiver can be obtained with any known technique. For example, the signal from a radio beacon that is placed on the dredging unit 3 can be detected by two or more receivers on the vessel, and the location of the unit can be calculated by triangulation. Alternatively, the length of the cable and the angle of inclination give the deviation of the dredging unit 3 by simple geometry.
Thus, with the aid of valid data on the processing capacity and with knowledge of the position of the dredging unit, a survey map of an area can be calculated on which suitable areas for extraction are indicated.
The card can be presented in any suitable form. For example, a series of contours of the processing capacity, as a colored "heat" map, as a relief map, etc. The values for the processing capacity can be converted to particle density, and thus displayed. The map can display areas above a certain threshold in one color (eg green), and below such a threshold in an alternative designation (eg red). Furthermore, the depth of the seabed, relief elements of the seabed, water currents, wind speeds, atmospheric pressure, can be indicated, or adjusted if necessary.
The method described herein allows the determination of the most efficient areas for mining, and can be cost-effectively implemented using systems and technologies that are already present on most ships.
The method can be incorporated into a device designed to perform the steps of the method. Such a device receives information which makes a calculation of the processing capacity possible.
Implementing the invention in a dredging vessel
A dredging vessel typically comprises a marine integrated computer system that receives information from a variety of vessel sensors such as the satellite navigation system and dredging sensors; it provides relevant information to one or more operators, and can accept orders for checking devices such as control, engine speed or other aspects of interest. The system comprises several components as indicated in Figure 2, including:
Integrated I / O Systems: This is a series of computers 21 that are equipped with input-output (I / O) modules that communicate with a variety of hardware devices. It can receive input sensor data from, for example, a satellite navigation system, a depth meter, a gyro compass, a speed profile, a temperature sensor, dredging unit, etc. It can provide output data to control the control, demo speed, suction pipe depth, etc.
Human Machine Interface (HMI) Workstations: These are workstations or terminals 23 that can display I / O information, for example, as a processed graphic or numeric representation. This can inform an operator about the status of the vessel such as course, vessel speed, wind speed, sea depth, the depth of the dredging unit, etc. The HMI workstations also allow the operator to give orders via the integrated l / O systems are passed on to the relevant institution. Thus, an order to control the vessel can be received by an HMI workstation 23, the order 22 being passed to an integrated I / O system 21 for remote control of, for example, a rudder.
Survey computer: This is a computer 24 that displays geographic information, for example, a map indicating the position and direction of the vessel to the dredger master and helmsman, to ensure that the course of the vessel is correct. It can also indicate zones that are suitable for dredging, determined, for example, by satellite images. It can also receive information from the integrated I / O systems such as satellite navigation data. A common version of a survey computer is a Dredge Track Presentation System (DTPS).
On board a dredging vessel, the present invention can be implemented in the HMI workstation 23 and / or in the survey computer 24. Alternatively, it can be implemented on any computer capable of receiving data from the relevant sensors.
- Implementation in an HMI workstation
The program typically used in marine HMI workstations (e.g., SCADA) allowed the operator to change the configuration of the screen and input choices for a particular job. Thus, by a simple extension of the program, data from sensors of interest to the present invention, i.e., those that measure the suspension speed, suspension concentration, swell compensation, and optionally the location of the vessel, can be processed and displayed by an existing HMI workstation. An example of a screen of an HMI workstation that implements the present invention as an extension is given in Figure 3. Such displayed data can allow an operator to follow the dredging process, which can be monitored. Based on this, the operator can determine a cost-effective dredging operation.
- Implementation in a survey computer
The standard survey visualization program used by the dredging crew can be modified to process sensor data, and may display information obtained by the present invention. Desurvey computer indicates the route and course of the vessel, providing additional information such as depth and differential elevation data as an overlay.
The survey computer can be connected to the integrated I / O systems, and data from sensors that are important for the present invention can be connected. those that measure the suspension speed, suspension concentration, swell compensation, and the location of the vessel are processed and displayed by the survey computer. According to one aspect of the present invention, an additional visualization layer may be added indicating the suitable areas for extraction based on the calculation of processing capacity from the I / O data. The information about the processing capacity can be provided in sorted colors eg from green (best) to red (worst) as an overlay on the card. The data can be those obtained from an earlier survey or from an ongoing survey.
For an ongoing survey, an overlay can be blue for a processing capacity of, for example, 1000 tons / h that is updated with a different color when the processing capacity changes. The number of colors can be user defined - (eg single two colors, a color palette, or a gradual color gradient). If a vessel has one dredging unit, one track can be indicated; more than one dredging unit can be reflected by separately showing the processing capacity of each unit. An example of a survey chart is given in Figure 4.
It is within the scope of the invention to provide other software modules that can interact with an HMI workstation and / or a survey computer. These modules could be present in the HMI workstation, in the integrated I / O systems or in the survey computer. The use of modules allows faster and / or more complex processing, and can allow smooth communication between the various hardware and software elements that make up the system.
While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations are apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to include all such alternatives, changes, and variations according to the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention is a method for determining an efficient recovery of solid material from a seabed (12) using a vessel (1) equipped with a dredging unit (3) for removing a solid material suspension from the seabed (12), the method comprising the steps of: i) measuring the rate at which the solid material is recovered, ie the processing capacity, and ii) determining an efficient extraction if the processing capacity is above a certain level.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above, wherein the processing capacity is determined by measuring a speed and a concentration of recovered suspension that passes through a suction pipe (2) connecting the dredging unit (3) to the vessel (1) , in order to obtain the processing capacity.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above, wherein data on the slurry rate and the slurry concentration are ignored to determine the processing capacity during periods in which the dredging unit (3) has no contact with the seabed (12).
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above, in which the dredging unit (3) is suspended from a vessel (1) with a cable coupled to a swell compensation system and the contact of the dredging unit (3) with the seabed (12) ) is determined from said swell compensation system.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of drawing up a survey map of a seabed (12) that indicates efficient solid material recovery areas, comprising the steps of performing the method of claim 1, while the location of the dredging unit ( 3) is identified.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method to prepare a survey map as described above, wherein the location of the debugger unit (3) is identified by applying a compensation to the location of the vessel (1) as determined by a satellite navigation system .
Another embodiment of the present invention is a survey map of a seabed (12) that indicates efficient solid material recovery areas obtained with a method to prepare a survey map as described above.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a device designed to perform a method according to any of the methods described above.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a computer program stored on a computer readable storage device that is capable of performing any of the methods described above.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a marine human-machine interface workstation (23) designed to perform any of the methods described above.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a marine survey computer (24) designed to perform any of the methods described above.
权利要求:
Claims (11)
[1]
A method for determining an efficient recovery of solid material from a seabed (12) using a vessel (1) equipped with a dredging unit (3) for removing a suspension of solid material from the seabed (12), wherein the method comprises the steps of: i) measuring the speed at which the solid material is recovered, ie the processing capacity, and ii) determining efficient extraction if the processing capacity is above a certain level.
[2]
A method according to claim 1, wherein the processing capacity is determined by measuring a speed and a concentration of recovered suspension passing through a suction pipe (2) connecting the dredging unit (3) to the vessel (1), so as to obtain the processing capacity .
[3]
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein data on the suspension rate and the suspension concentration are ignored to determine the processing capacity during periods in which the dredging unit (3) has no contact with the seabed (12).
[4]
The method of claim 3, wherein the dredging unit (3) is suspended from a vessel (1) with a cable coupled to a swell compensation system and the contact of the dredging unit (3) with the seabed (12) is determined from said swell compensation -system.
[5]
A method of setting up a survey map of a seabed (12) indicating efficient areas for solid material recovery, comprising the steps of performing the method of claim 1, while identifying the location of the dredging unit (3).
[6]
The method of claim 5, wherein the location of the dredging unit (3) is identified by applying a compensation to the location of the vessel (1) as determined by a satellite navigation system.
[7]
A survey map of a seabed (12) indicating efficient solid material extraction areas obtained by a method of claims 5 or 6.
[8]
A device designed to perform a method according to any of claims 1 to 6.
[9]
A computer program stored on a computer readable storage device capable of performing a method according to any of claims 1 to 6.
[10]
A marine human-machine interface workstation (23) designed to perform a method according to any of claims 1 to 6.
[11]
A marine survey computer (24) designed to perform a method according to any of claims 1 to 6.
类似技术:
公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
US11157849B2|2021-10-26|Construction management method based on a current landform and a design landform of a construction site
US5850341A|1998-12-15|Method and apparatus for monitoring material removal using mobile machinery
BE1018431A3|2010-11-09|METHOD FOR DRAINING THE SEA BOTTOM.
US9292813B2|2016-03-22|System and method for collecting and organizing information related to utility assets
JP6496182B2|2019-04-03|Construction planning system
US9766637B2|2017-09-19|Operation control system for mining machine and operation control method for mining machine
CN106575489B|2019-04-26|Map creation device
MX2014010380A|2014-11-12|Automated track surveying and ditching.
US20180218301A1|2018-08-02|Construction management system and construction management method
Zaggia et al.2017|Fast shoreline erosion induced by ship wakes in a coastal lagoon: Field evidence and remote sensing analysis
Newell et al.1999|Organic enrichment associated with outwash from marine aggregates dredging: a probable explanation for surface sheens and enhanced benthic production in the vicinity of dredging operations
US10712158B2|2020-07-14|Open terrain navigation systems and methods
CN110446817A|2019-11-12|The assisting system of excavator and excavator
JP2021182439A|2021-11-25|Construction site management device
BE1018582A3|2011-04-05|EXCAVATING DEVICE FOR UNCRAFTING LAND UNDER WATER AND METHOD FOR UNCRAFTING LAND.
Harrap et al.2010|An overview of LIDAR: collection to application
CN107447800A|2017-12-08|A kind of ephemeral stream polluted bed mud accurately controls dredging method
CN107780938B|2019-03-05|A method of realizing that opencut excavating equipment controls ore mine grade
Kraus et al.2000|Study of navigation channel feasibility, Willapa Bay, Washington
US10384882B2|2019-08-20|Material management system and method for an in-pit crusher and conveyer
KR102180234B1|2020-11-18|Underwater Construction System
JP2001262538A|2001-09-26|Method and device for earth and sand reclamation
Munoz-Perez et al.2003|Portable meter system for dry weight control in dredging hoppers
Sanderson et al.1986|Survey of equipment and construction techniques for capping dredged material
Dzhabrailov et al.2021|Concept of Digital Leveling System of Construction Sites
同族专利:
公开号 | 公开日
NL1033266A1|2007-07-23|
EP1811127A1|2007-07-25|
NL1033266C2|2009-04-07|
引用文献:
公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
US3512281A|1966-11-28|1970-05-19|Mineraal Technologisch Inst|Swell compensator for a drag suction dredger|
FR2283264A1|1974-08-29|1976-03-26|Sandbergs N A Ing Firman|METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A MOBILE APPARATUS FOR SUCTIONING THE BOTTOM OF AN ACCUMULATION OF LIQUIDS, OF MATTER THAT MAY BE SUSPENSIONED THEREIN|
US4278365A|1977-03-31|1981-07-14|Ingenjorsfirman N. A. Sandberg Industrikostruktioner Ab|Control system for controlling a plant including a mobile suction device for sucking suspendible material|
JPS5888636A|1981-11-24|1983-05-26|Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd|Detector for slurry content rate of dredge boat|
WO1986004627A1|1985-01-31|1986-08-14|Industrikonstruktioner Ab|Method for controlling the concentration of a slurry sucked up by at least one moveable suction unit|
US5172497A|1991-10-25|1992-12-22|Lor, Inc.|Slurry density control system|
JPH10159125A|1996-11-27|1998-06-16|Honmagumi:Kk|Dredging device|
JPH11286957A|1998-04-03|1999-10-19|Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Ind Co Ltd|Automatic control method for ranc of dredge|
JP2000017684A|1998-06-30|2000-01-18|Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Ind Co Ltd|Method and device for controlling dredging of dredger|
NL174577C|1979-03-27|1984-07-02|Ihc Holland Nv|METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PRODUCTION ON A DREDGING TOOL.|
JPS5885169A|1981-11-17|1983-05-21|Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd|Earth discharge distribution monitor in sludge-moving tube for dredger|GB2495286B|2011-10-03|2015-11-04|Marine Resources Exploration Internat Bv|A method of recovering a deposit from the sea bed|
BE1024397B1|2013-12-13|2018-02-07|Baggerwerken Decloedt En Zoon|METHOD FOR DRAGGING AN UNDERWATER BOTTOM IN AN AREA WITH THE aid of a Dredging device|
CN104712003B|2015-03-17|2017-04-05|中国电建集团贵阳勘测设计研究院有限公司|A kind of small hydropower station desilting equipment|
CN106592674B|2016-12-16|2018-10-23|浙江海洋大学东海科学技术学院|One kind adopting the integrated dredger of row|
CA3090490A1|2018-02-22|2019-08-29|Michael Detering|Device for a sediment transfer in waters, and also a method for a transfer of sediment in waters|
法律状态:
2020-10-15| MM| Lapsed because of non-payment of the annual fee|Effective date: 20200131 |
优先权:
申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
EP06447012|2006-01-20|
EP06447012A|EP1811127A1|2006-01-20|2006-01-20|Method of mining the sea bed|
[返回顶部]