Flow assurance for three phase flow for deep sea mining

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14977
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 24020:Marine engineering-related
• Research Institution: National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology
• Principal Investigator: Takano Satoru 国立研究開発法人海上・港湾・航空技術研究所, その他部局等, 主任研究員 (90636820)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 海洋鉱物資源 / 混相流 / 摩擦損失 / 体積率 / 内部流

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I established the estimating methods for volume fractions of each phase in gas-liquid-solid three-phase flows and frictional pressure drops due to three-phase flows. For establishing volume fractions of gas phase, I referred to drift flux model. For establishing volume fractions of solid phase, I referred to correlations for hindered settling velocities. For establishing frictional pressure drops due to three-phase flows, I referred the expressions of homogeneous flow model.
For validating those methods, I carried out the experiment of gas-lift pumping systems and obtained the data of volume fractions of each phase and frictional pressure drops due to three-phase flows and compared the experimental data and calculated results. The comparisons suggested that those methods could calculate the volume fractions and frictional pressure drops.

Free Research Field

船舶海洋工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本の排他的経済水域に広く賦存していることが知られている海洋鉱物資源の開発において、それら資源の有望な揚収手法の1つとしてエアリフト方式があげられる。当該方式での揚収システムにおいて、空気やガスと海水、及び資源である固体の固気液三相流の各相の体積率や三相流が移送されることによる摩擦損失の推定手法を構築することは、システムのガス抜きの必要性の有無や、ガス流入量・流入箇所、揚収可能な固相の体積率等、システムの設計・運用のための貴重な指針につながるため社会的な意義がある。