全球首台套6000m级深海采矿非金属非粘结智能柔性混输管顺利通过南海海试

Core Viewpoint - The successful sea trial of the world's first 6000m deep-sea mining non-metallic non-bonded intelligent flexible pipeline marks a significant breakthrough in China's deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining technology, which is crucial for enhancing the country's resource development capabilities and ensuring strategic mineral resource security [1][2]. Group 1 - The project, led by China University of Petroleum (Beijing) and involving nine other institutions, received funding from the National Key R&D Program in November 2022, focusing on the research of key technologies for deep-sea mining non-metallic non-bonded flexible pipelines [2]. - After three years of development, the project team successfully created a domestically produced ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material, which is key for the design and continuous manufacturing of high-wear-resistant lightweight flexible pipelines [2]. - The project overcame critical theoretical and technical bottlenecks in the design, materials, processing, health management, and evaluation of non-metallic flexible pipelines for deep-sea mining [2]. Group 2 - The sea trial, led by Changsha Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, began on October 9 and involved the installation and testing of a 250m long non-metallic non-bonded intelligent flexible pipeline in a test area with a water depth of 103m [3]. - The trial successfully verified the pipeline's performance in transporting mineral slurry, achieving a maximum transport volume concentration of 15% and a stable flow rate of 457 cubic meters per hour [3]. - This achievement represents a transition from technical exploration to sea trial validation, providing essential technologies and equipment for the 6000m deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining transportation system [3].