Air-lift pump systems for vertical solid particle transport: A comprehensive review and deep sea mining potential

Deep-sea mining involves the extraction of valuable minerals from the ocean floor. The transportation of deep-sea mineral deposits from the seafloor to the surface is crucial for the success of deep-sea mining operations. The slurry pumping system is responsible for conveying a mixture of minerals, sediments, and water over significant distances. Designing a robust and efficient slurry pump necessitates meticulous consideration of various factors, including particle size, slurry concentration, system reliability, and more. This article presents a comprehensive, state-of-the-art review of airlift pumping, with a particular focus on three-phase flow systems. The manuscript is divided into two primary sections: an analytical approach and an experimental approach to the airlift system. The empirical methodologies discussed herein provide correlations for evaluating pump performance in both two-phase (air-water) and three-phase flow systems. Furthermore, the experimental findings shed light on how operational parameters impact system performance dynamics and flow regime transitions. Additionally, the paper discusses the utilization and advancement of airlift pumping systems in deep-sea mining operations. The technological advancements and challenges addressed within this paper offer valuable insights for improving the implementation methodologies for designing slurry pumping systems in the context of deep-sea mining operations. •Conducted a comprehensive review and presentation of airlift pumping systems, aiming to provide a thorough understanding of their mechanisms, advantages, and limitations for the vertical solid particle transport.•The empirical correlations for both two-phase and three-phase flow air-lift pumping systems are comprehensively presented, and their reliability is assessed through a comparative analysis with experimental results.•The experimental analyses presented by various authors have been thoroughly examined and organized in a table, including their variable geometrical and operational parameters, as well as significant findings.•The promising potential of air-lift pump systems in the emerging field of deep-sea mining is discussed in details. These discussions help us to understand the effective transport of solid particles from the ocean floor to the surface.