Method and apparatus for a dynamic buoyancy system for deep-sea mining

Abstract

A buoyancy system for an underwater autonomous vehicle is provided. The buoyancy system includes one or more pressure vessels, a primary pump connected to each of the one or more pressure vessels with the primary pump configured to pump liquid from the one or more pressure vessels. The buoyancy system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the primary pump and configured to operate the main pump via wireless or wired communication, and a power source configured to provide power to the controller and the primary pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A buoyancy system for an underwater autonomous vehicle, the buoyancy system comprising:
 one or more pressure vessels;   a primary pump connected to each of the one or more pressure vessels, wherein the primary pump is configured to pump liquid from the one or more pressure vessels;   a controller communicatively coupled to the primary pump and configured to operate the main pump via wireless or wired communication; and   a power source configured to provide power to the controller and the primary pump.   
     
     
         2 . The buoyancy system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pump connected to each of the one or more pressure vessels via a liquid inlet valve, the first pump configured to pump liquid into each of the one or more pressure vessels when commanded by the controller; and   a second pump connected to each of the one or more pressure vessels via a gas inlet valve, the second pump configured to pump in gas to each of the one or more pressure vessels when commanded by the controller.   
     
     
         3 . The buoyancy system of  claim 1 , wherein a volume of a liquid within each of the one or more pressure vessels is independently controlled via the operation of the primary pump through the controller. 
     
     
         4 . The buoyancy system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure vessels are arranged in an array. 
     
     
         5 . The buoyancy system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vessels contain a volume of a liquid and a volume of a gas. 
     
     
         6 . The buoyancy system of  claim 5 , wherein the liquid is at least one of sea water, filtered sea water, desalinated water, or de-ionized water. 
     
     
         7 . The buoyancy system of  claim 5 , wherein the gas is at least one of air or filtered air. 
     
     
         8 . The buoyancy system of  claim 1 , wherein a pressure of a gas contained each of the one or more vessels is between about 14.1 psi and about 3.2 psi. 
     
     
         9 . The buoyancy system of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is a battery park. 
     
     
         10 . The buoyancy system of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyancy system is configured to operate up to a sea depth of about 5 km to 6 km. 
     
     
         11 . A deep-sea mining system, the system comprising:
 a dynamic buoyancy system comprising one or more pressure vessels;   an autonomous underwater vehicle; and   an ore collection system;   wherein the dynamic buoyancy system is configured to dynamically control a buoyancy of the deep-sea mining system while the deep-sea mining system descends, ascends, and remains at a pre-determined sea depth during an ore collection process.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic buoyancy system dynamically controls the buoyancy of the deep-sea mining system by independently adjusting a liquid volume within each of the one or more pressure vessels. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the one or more pressure vessels of the dynamic buoyancy system contains a gas with a pressure between about 14.6 psi and about 3.2 psi. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pre-determined sea depth is between 5 km and 6 km. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic buoyancy system is further configured to adjust the buoyancy of the deep-sea mining system to compensate for weight changes in the deep-sea mining system caused during the ore collection process. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic buoyancy system is further configured to keep the deep-sea mining system neutrally buoyant during the entire ore collection process. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the dynamic buoyancy system further comprises:
 a primary pump connected to each of the one or more pressure vessels, wherein the primary pump is configured to pump a liquid from the one or more pressure vessels;   a controller communicatively coupled to the primary pump and configured to operate the main pump via wireless or wired communication; and   a power source configured to provide power to the controller and the primary pump.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid is at least one of sea water, filtered sea water, desalinated water, or de-ionized water. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the dynamic buoyancy system further comprises:
 a first pump connected to each of the one or more pressure vessels via a liquid inlet valve, the first pump configured to pump the liquid into each of the one or more pressure vessels when commanded by the controller; and   a second pump connected to each of the one or more pressure vessels via a gas inlet valve, the second pump configured to pump a gas to each of the one or more pressure vessels when commanded by the controller.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the gas is at least one of air or filtered air.