Capture and efficiency enhancement of deep-sea mining sediments

Deep-sea mining operations generate sediment plumes. Traditional methods such as electroco-agulation or the use of flocculants pose risks of chemical contamination, endangering deep-sea ecological safety. To address this, this study designed a suction port device featuring a slit structure along the central axis of a circular pipe. By expanding the suction area and optimizing the pipeline connection method, the device achieves timely and precise sediment capture. Simulation analysis based on a solid–liquid two-phase flow model determined the optimal parameters for the suction port: an opening angle of 80°, an opening size of 2.5 mm, and a pipeline inner diameter of 25 mm. Experimental results demonstrated that the sediment capture rate increased significantly with suction velocity, rising from 67.97% at 1 m/s to 80.05% at 2 m/s, which validated its effectiveness. Capture rate saturation observed at 2m/s confirms the device's high efficiency and stability. This device effectively suppresses sediment dispersion, offering a new solution for environmentally sustainable deep-sea mining.