A Novel Cutting Technique for Deep Ocean Applications

传统的岩石切割、取芯和金属切割方法 严重的技术、环境和安全限制， 水下应用。 高压磨料水射流 切割目前被证明是一种革命性的 在海洋深度达20，000英尺的任何材料切割技术 英尺 这种方法在性能和可操作性上是边际的 然而，不期望可靠性和进一步的改进。 这项研究提出了一种新的概念，切割与高- 速度磨粒束 在这个概念中，磨料 被直接泵送通过喷嘴，而不是夹带， AWJ喷嘴，以形成高压磨料浆射流（ASJ）。 QUEST表明，切割率（在大气条件下） 与使用AWJ相比， 这个新方法。 在这项研究中，我们将进行一个可行性 ASJ用于水下切割的研究 高压 (50 1，000 psi）的磨料泥浆泵， 用于此次调查。 参数切割测试将 在岩石和金属上表演 将使用分析研究 支持实验工作。 一个概念设计， 将准备海底切割系统。

Traditional rock cutting, coring, and metal cutting methods have serious technical, environmental, and safety limitations for underwater applications. High-pressure abrasive-waterjet (AWJ) cutting is currently being demonstrated as a revolutionary technique for cutting any material at ocean depths up to 20,000 feet. This method is marginal in performance and operational reliability, however, and further improvements are not expected. This research addresses a novel concept for cutting with high- velocity abrasive particle beams. In this concept, the abrasives are directly pumped through a nozzle, rather than entrained as in an AWJ nozzle, to form a high-pressure abrasive slurry jet (ASJ). QUEST demonstrated that cutting rates (under atmospheric conditions) can be increased fivefold compared to an AWJ using this new method. In this research we will conduct a feasibility study on using ASJs for underwater cutting. A high-pressure (50,000 psi) abrasive slurry pump under development at QUEST will be used in this investigation. Parametric cutting tests will be performed on rocks and metals. Analytical studies will be used to support the experimental work. A conceptual design for an ocean floor cutting system will be prepared.