A Novel Cutting Technique for Deep Ocean Applications

传统的岩石切割、取心和金属切割方法在水下应用具有严重的技术、环境和安全限制。高压磨料水射流（AWJ）切割技术目前被证明是一种革命性的技术，可以在海洋深度高达20,000英尺的地方切割任何材料。然而，这种方法在性能和操作可靠性方面处于边缘地位，并且不期望进一步改进。本研究提出了高速磨料粒子束切割的新概念。在这个概念中，磨料被直接泵入喷嘴，而不是像AWJ喷嘴那样被夹带，形成高压磨料浆射流（ASJ）。QUEST证明，与使用这种新方法的AWJ相比，在大气条件下，切割速度可以提高5倍。在本研究中，我们将对使用ASJs进行水下切割的可行性进行研究。QUEST正在开发的高压（50,000 psi）研磨料浆泵将用于本次研究。参数切削试验将在岩石和金属上进行。分析研究将用于支持实验工作。准备海底切割系统的概念设计。

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.