2023 Volume 79 Issue 18 Article ID: 23-18091
Rare earth mud and manganese nodules exist near the seafloor around Minami-torishima Island, which is within Japan's EEZ. The Pulp-lift method is being considered as one of the development methods. The Pulp-lift method is a transporting manganese nodules using a high-viscosity working fluid made by mixing rare earth mud and seawater. To realize this method, it is essential to estimate the yield of seafloor resources under various conditions. However, the viscosity characteristics of the working fluid were unknown, and the reliable estimation of the yield was not possible. In this study, the viscosity characteristics of the working fluid of the pulp lift system were clarified through experiments, and a simulation model was constructed for estimating the lifted yield.
