Session: 01-01-03 Offshore Platforms-3

Submission Number: 177782

Development and Validation of a Differential Pressure Sensor for Deep-Sea Mining Applications 

The increasing globalization of our society and the steady progress of electrification and digitization of manufacturing processes and end products are leading to a further increase in demand for raw materials such as rare earths, copper, and other metals. Until now, these materials have been mined primarily onshore, but this comes with significant financial, environmental, and social costs. In addition, deposits are limited and raw material concentrations are declining. Novel methods of raw material extraction, such as deep-sea mining, are promising alternatives for meeting future demand. Research is being conducted worldwide in this field and various mining strategies are being investigated. Until now, conventional methods have caused considerable environmental damage by spreading turbidity plumes that destroy life near the seabed. To counteract this problem, we are developing a mining platform that can be used to explore, investigate, and mine ore deposits in the deep sea with minimal impact. It uses energy-efficient processes and avoids environmentally harmful turbidity plumes.

Part of the monitoring sensor system is a differential pressure sensor developed for the piping system. This pressure sensor is integrated into an intelligent, self-learning control system. It monitors the differential pressure along the feed hose and provides valuable information about the solid content, the progress of the grinding process, and possible malfunctions such as blockages or changes in fluid properties caused by a high density of ultrafine particles. This data is crucial for the operation of both remote-controlled and autonomous systems. A sensor of this type is currently not available on the market. To overcome this shortage, we develop a system based on a commercially available differential pressure sensor. To make the sensor suitable for use in deep-sea environments, all components except the measuring chamber are carefully insulated to protect the electronics from harmful influences caused by pressure and water. Our goal is a sensor guaranteeing maximum robustness suitable for long-term use under extreme deep-sea conditions that is also easy to manufacture.

We have conducted numerous tests to ensure the functionality and high reliability of the encapsulated sensor. Its resistance to high pressure conditions and its unrestricted functionality during and after pressure loads have been confirmed by experiments in a high-pressure test chamber. We present the encapsulation process and the validation. Overall, the new sensor has improved properties and delivers reliable measurements. It combines the precision of existing measurement technologies with the new ability to operate under deep-sea conditions, opening up new application possibilities.

Presenting Author: Aliena Bösl Lehrstuhl für Strömungsmechanik

Presenting Author Biography: A. Bösl was born in Aschaffenburg, Germany in 1995. She received her B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree in Life Science Engineering from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany in 2017 and. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. degree in fluid dynamics at the same university.
From 2019 to 2021 she was a research assistant at the Institute of Fluid Mechanics in the field of process fluid dynamics. Her research interests include the development of different sensors for dep sea applications, preferably by using pressure neutral systems.

Authors:

Aliena Bösl Lehrstuhl für Strömungsmechanik
Christoph Strehse Lehrstuhl für Meerestechnik
Manuel Münsch Lehrstuhl für Strömungsmechanik
Sascha Kosleck Lehrstuhl für Meerestechnik
Andreas Wierschem Lehrstuhl für Strömungsmechanik