• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.187-197
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• 2004

The purpose of this paper is to investigate economic feasibility of manganese nodules in Korea area (Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone). We assumed that the production scale of manganese nodules were 3.0MT or 1.5MT and analyzed that the capital cost and operating cost were estimated in the four sectors, exploration, mining, transportation and metallurgical process. The capital cost and operating cost evaluation reflects the latest technical practices. First, for analyzing economic feasibility, the scenario suggests that the production of 4 metals can be made for 25 years. Assuming the discount rate at 8.0%, equity capital at 50% and tax at 27%. When manganese nodule were mininged 3.0 MT, economic feasibility analyses showed that IRR was 12.8 and pay-back period was 9.2 years, and when manganese nodules were mininged 1.5 MT, economic feasibility analyses showed that IRR was 4.0 and pay-back period was 11.8 years. This study indicated there is economic validity of at the product of manganese nodules 3.0 MT. In addition, we carried out a sensitivity analysis at the change of cobalt price on mining 1.5 MT. The result of sensitivity analysis clearly showed that economic validity is high at increasing of cobalt price 50% up.

• 자원환경지질
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.493-498
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to develop geostatistical model for evaluating the abundance of deep-sea manganese nodule. The abundance data used in this study were obtained from the KODOS (Korea Deep Ocean Study) area. The variation of nodule abundance was very high within short distance, while sampling methods was very limited. As the distribution of nodule abundance showed non-gaussian, indicator simulation method was used instead of conditional simulation method and/or ordinary kriging. The abundance data were encoded into a series of indicators with 6 cutoff values. They were used to estimate the conditional probability distribution function (cpdf) of the nodule abundance at any unsampled location. The standardized indicator variogram models were obtained according to variogram analysis. This SIS method had the advantage over other traditional techniques such as the turning bands method and ordinary kriging. The estimating values by indicator conditional simulation near high abundance area were more detailed than by ordinary kriging and indicator kriging. They also showed better spatial characteristics of distribution of nodule abundance.

• 한국해양학회지:바다
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.280-285
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• 2008

자유낙하식 시료채취기(Free Fall Grab, FFG)를 이용하여 산출한 망간단괴의 부존밀도는 보정이 필요하다. 그 이유는 FFG로 망간단괴를 채취할 때 해저면에 부존되어 있는 망간단괴의 실제 양 보다 적은 양만이 채취되는 것으로 알려져 있기 때문이다. 지난 1994년과 2002년에 각각 1.29와 1.13의 망간단괴 부존밀도 보정상수가 제시된 바 있으며, 이는 주로 해저면 영상자료의 분석을 통해 이루어 졌다. 이 연구에서는 동일한 정점에서 FFG와 상자형 시료채취기(Box Corer, BC)를 이용하여 회수한 망간단괴의 부존밀도를 비교하여 기존에 제시된 망간단괴 부존밀도 보정상수와 비교하였다. 그 결과 FFG를 이용한 망간단괴의 회수율이 BC에 비하여 낮으며, 그 차이는 약 1.4배로 기존의 보정상수에 비해 훨씬 더 크게 나타났다. 따라서 향후 추가 시료 획득과 해저면 영상분석의 개선을 통해 기존의 망간단괴 부존밀도 보정식을 재산정할 필요성이 제기된다.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.463-473
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• 2010

Inshore tests were performed in order to verify the design concept of deep sea manganese nodule miner at a site near Hupo at East Sea of Korea in June of 2009. Total mining tests of the test miner, named 'Minero$^{(R)}$', together with flexible hose, lifting pump and lifting hose were accomplished. In this study, the performances of three subsystems of testminer (vehicle, pick-up device, and launch-and-recovery device) were analyzed for feasibility assessment of self-propelled remotely controlled miner, and also to compile basic data for designing a pilotminer. Performances of the test miner were defined based on the Functional Requirements of Axiomatic Design. The inshore tests revealed that the test miner generally satisfies the functional performances. Feasibility assessment and reflection on results are discussed within.

• 한국해양공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국해양공학회 2001년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.160-163
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• 2001

In order to develop a nodule conveying system through a flexible pipe out of the deep-seabed manganese nodule miner, an experimental study of the solid-water slurry flow in vertical pipe is performed as the first stage of total experiments. Hydraulic characteristics of the pipe slurry flow such as slip velocity, transport concentration and pressure gradient are investigated for the size of particle, load ratio, and flow rate of water. The higher the load ratio is, the larger the transport concentration and pressure gradient become. The bigger the size of particles is, the larger the pressure gradient becomes. The effectiveness of the flow rate to hydraulic performance is also investigated. This results are to be used for designing crusher and pump, and operating the conveying device.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.149-161
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• 2006

The aims of this study are 1) to construct a database using geostatistics and Geographic Information System (GIS), and 2) to derive the spatial relationships between manganese nodule abundance and other geological factors such as metal grade, slope, water depth, topography, and acoustic characteristics of the sub-bottom. Using GIS, it is possible to analyze a large amount of data efficiently, and to maximize the practical application, to increase specialization, and to enhance the accuracy of the analyses. The greater the copper and nickel grade, the higher the rating. The distribution pattern of nickel grade is similar to that of copper grade. The slopes are generally less than $3^{\circ}$ except for seamounts and cliff areas. The rating shows no correlation with slope. The rating is highest for slopes between 2.5 and $3.5^{\circ}$ in block N1 and between 4.0 and $4.5^{\circ}$ in block N3. The topography is classified into five groups: seamount, hill crest, hill slant, hill base or plain, and seafloor basin or valley. The rating proves lowest for seamount and hill crest. Our results show that the rating increases with the water depth in the study area. Nodule abundance dose not show any significant relationship with the thickness of the upper transparent layer in the study area.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.373-381
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• 2014

Korea contract Mn-nodule field in the NE equatorial Pacific is composed of seven sectors with average water depths of 4,513-5,025 m. Of the various factors controlling the properties of Mn-nodule, it seems that water depth is likely connected to the chemical composition and occurrence of nodules. To test whether such an assumption held in each sector, we reviewed previous research data accumulated since 1994 for one of the northern sectors (hereafter KR1) where there are stark contrasts in water depth. High-resolution seabed mapping clearly separates a northern part (KR1N) from a deeper southern part (KR1S), cutting across in the middle of the KR1. In addition, significant volcanic activities forming numerous seamounts are distinctive especially in KR1N. In terms of nodule occurrence, manganese nodules in KR1S are comparatively larger (2-4 cm) with a discoidal shape, while those in KR1N are generally small (<2 cm) with poly-lobate and irregular shapes. Nodules in KR1N also have lower Co, Cu, Mn and Ni, and higher Fe contents. The spatial separation in nodule characteristics might be caused by volcanic activities in KR1N rather than water depth contrast. During the formation of the seamounts in KR1N, rock fragments and volcanic ashes as new nuclei of the nodules would have been continuously generated. As a result, the nodules could not grow larger than 2 cm and display the shapes of a newbie (i.e., irregular and poly-lobate shapes). Moreover, significant Fe supply from volcanic activities probably decreases the Mn/Fe ratio, which may lead to the KR1 nodules being misinterpreted as a hydrogenic in origin compared to other sectors where a high Mn/Fe ratio is present.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.411-415
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• 2009

비황화광물인 망간단괴에서 일부 미생물은 비효소학적 과정을 통해 간접적으로 망간(II)을 용출시킬 수 있다. 이때 환원적 용해를 일으킬 수 있는 대사산물의 생성을 위해 제공되는 탄소 및 에너지원인 glucose, sucrose, galactose 등은 생물용출 기술의 장점인 경제성을 저하시키는 원인이 되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 저렴한 탄소 및 에너지원으로 corn starch를 이용하면서 망간(II) 용출능력을 지닌 종속영양 미생물로서 Bacillus sp. MR2에 의한 망간(II)의 용출 특성을 알아보았다. 망간(II)의 용출은 MR2의 생장에 수반되어 일어났으며[25.6 g Mn(II) $kg^{-1}$ nodule $day^{-1}$], 24시간 이후에는 생성된 망간(II)의 일부가 망간단괴 입자에 다시 흡착되는 경향을 보였다. 분쇄물을 dialysis tube (MWCO 12,000)에 넣어 MR2와의 접촉을 막았을 때도 유사한 정도의 결과[24.6 g Mn(II) $kg^{-1}$ nodule $day^{-1}$]를 보여 세포와 망간단괴의 직접적 접촉이 필요 없이 세포외 분비물질에 의해 환원적 용해가 일어남을 알 수 있었다. 실험에 적용된 영향요인들의 범위에서 최적 용출조건을 분석한 결과, $25\sim35^{\circ}C$, pH 5~7, 접종밀도 1.5~2.5% (v/v), 분쇄물의 농도 2~3 g/L 및 입자크기 <75 ${\mu}m$일 때가 가장 효율이 높았다. 비록 입자의 크기가 작을수록 망간(II) 용출속도가 증가했지만 분쇄에 더 많은 에너지가 요구되므로 경제성을 고려한다면 <212 ${\mu}m$가적절한 수준으로 제시될 수 있었다. 이상의 효율적인 망간단괴의 용출 조건 규명은 기존의 물리화학적 금속 회수기술에 비해 적은 비용과 에너지가 요구되는 환경친화적 생물용출 기술의 진보에 도움을 줄 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국해양공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국해양공학회 2001년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.26-31
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• 2001

In order to measure the distance from the bottom in the ocean we use ultrasound altitude sonars. The manganese nodule pick-up device developed by KRISO is also using an altitude sonar to control the gap between the pick-up head and sea bottom. This paper describes the performance of the altitude sonar by an experimental method. The experiment was performed with four ground models in a small basin, Manganese nodule models and water-bentonite mixture was used for setting up the ground models. Buttorworth filter was applied to remove the noise caused by a servo motor and its controller. The results show that the altitude sonar gives a good estimation of the types and slopes of the bottom as well as the distance.

• 산업기술연구
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• 제19권
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• pp.189-195
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• 1999

A study on the separation Cu, Ni, and Co was carried out using LIX 84 leachate, chelate extractant. For this test, artificial test solution was prepared by varing concentrations of Cu, Ni, Co, $(NH_4)_2CO_3$ and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$. It found that pH of the solution was very important factor for the separation of nickel from copper. The results showed that nickel was effectively extracted from copper by using LIX 84 at pH 1.0 to 1.2. The volume ration or organic to aqueous phases was 1.0. According to the McCabe-Thiele diagram, the extraction rate of copper was 99 percents at the equal ratio of organic to aqueous phase in three stages.