45. Preliminary Balance of the Cold Accumulated in Polymetallic Nodules Stored on the Mining Ship

Continuous depletion of land resources of metals and other raw materials (e.g., energy) motivates humanity to seek new sources of obtaining raw materials. An alternative source of the metal ores is the seabed. During the industrial mining of polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor, the waste cold is accumulated in nodules and seawater transported vertically from a depth of 4000–6000 m, where there is a constant temperature of 1–2 °C. Part of cold returns back into the ocean with water and the sediment. The cold, which is accumulated in separated nodules, can be utilized in exploitation conditions of a mining or transport ship. The chapter presents a methodology for estimating the amount of cold extracted from the seabed and accumulated in nodules stored in mining vessel. The purpose of the calculations was to estimate the waste cold. Its amount clearly indicates the possibility of using it and reducing the energy consumption of some equipment and installations on mining and transport vessels, particularly in tropical environments where the deposits of polymetallic nodules are located. The cold accumulated in the nodules may be a cold source for a number of service processes of the mining and transport vessels.