PIPELINES
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monolayer on the sea floor in many parts of the world, contain other minerais
as well, including cobalt, copper, and nickel with traces of molybdenum, vanadium, and titanium. By the mid-1980s, remote-controlled mining of the nodules
was achieved with a 5500 m long dredge pipe. In this design, air bubbles are
pumped into the string at varions points along its length to aid in pumping
the nodules to the surface. The dredge pipe’s position is computer-controlled,
synchronized to the movement of both the self-propelled mining scoop at one
end and the ship at the other end. A schematic diagram of this System is shown
in Figure 1.10a.
Figure 1.10 Two vertical pipeline Systems: (a) a dredge pipe for mining manganèse
nodules; (b) a cold water pipe for océan thermal energy conversion.
Vertical cold water pipe Systems for océan thermal energy conversion (OTEC)
hâve been studied extensively. See Wilson et al. (1982). Calculations show that
practical full-scale pipe designs are 10-20 m in diameter, are about 1000 m long,
and may be used to raise the cooler water in the deep océan to the warmer
surface water. With the différentiel température between the ends of the pipe
(10-20°C), it is possible to produce net power through heat exchange. Such a
System is depicted in Figure 1.10b. In 1979, a small-scale OTEC power plant
operated successfully on a barge 2.3 km offshore of Kona, Hawaii. This pipe
was 61 cm in diameter, 660 m long, and made of polyuréthane. The CWP was
supported by a surface buoy at the barge stern and was tension-moored with
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monolayer on the sea floor in many parts of the world, contain other minerais
as well, including cobalt, copper, and nickel with traces of molybdenum, vanadium, and titanium. By the mid-1980s, remote-controlled mining of the nodules
was achieved with a 5500 m long dredge pipe. In this design, air bubbles are
pumped into the string at varions points along its length to aid in pumping
the nodules to the surface. The dredge pipe’s position is computer-controlled,
synchronized to the movement of both the self-propelled mining scoop at one
end and the ship at the other end. A schematic diagram of this System is shown
in Figure 1.10a.
Figure 1.10 Two vertical pipeline Systems: (a) a dredge pipe for mining manganèse
nodules; (b) a cold water pipe for océan thermal energy conversion.
Vertical cold water pipe Systems for océan thermal energy conversion (OTEC)
hâve been studied extensively. See Wilson et al. (1982). Calculations show that
practical full-scale pipe designs are 10-20 m in diameter, are about 1000 m long,
and may be used to raise the cooler water in the deep océan to the warmer
surface water. With the différentiel température between the ends of the pipe
(10-20°C), it is possible to produce net power through heat exchange. Such a
System is depicted in Figure 1.10b. In 1979, a small-scale OTEC power plant
operated successfully on a barge 2.3 km offshore of Kona, Hawaii. This pipe
was 61 cm in diameter, 660 m long, and made of polyuréthane. The CWP was
supported by a surface buoy at the barge stern and was tension-moored with