Efficient and environmentally friendly collection control method for deep-sea seafloor massive sulfides

Research on seafloor massive sulfide collection started relatively late and has achieved few results so far. In particular, research on efficient and environmentally friendly collection control methods is almost non-existent. To improve collection performance, this study uses the computational fluid dynamics–discrete element method to investigate efficient and environmentally friendly collection control methods. Specifically, this study highlights three innovative, efficient, and environmentally friendly collection control devices that can improve collection efficiency and prevent particle escape. Among these devices, the collection control device with wrapped multiple empty square discharge holes demonstrates the best collection performance, with the maximum increase in collection efficiency reaching 45.32%, making it the recommended device for collection control. Moreover, for power source selection, this study suggests using a suction flow of 133.2 kg/s for negative pressure suction and a rotational speed of 30 r/min for the mining head. The findings of this study provide valuable guidance for the design of efficient and environmentally friendly mining-collecting head structures and methods to suppress deep-sea plumes.