ABSTRACT: The increasing interest in the exploitation of underwater mineral deposits is due to the increase in demand for some mineral resources because of the depletion of their deposits on land. Therefore worldwide research is aimed at developing efficient technologies exploitation of minerals from the bottom of the seas and oceans. The biggest problem in the development of underwater systems operating at great depths is transport from the seabed to the surface. Previous solutions represent various assumptions and technical concepts. Un-fortunately, their biggest drawback is high energy consumption and thus high costs. The authors proposed the use of a new method which involves the use of pyrotechnics as the source of energy in transport from the seabed at great depths (Filipek & Broda, 2016, 2017) presenting the results of theoretical and experimental research of pyrotechnic reaction involving potassium nitrate. This paper explains the concept of the use of pyrotechnic materials involving ammonium nitrate transport from great depths in the aquatic environment. It presents the results of experimental verification of possibility of ammonium nitrate use in pyrotechnic reactions as a source of energy needed to raise the excavated material from the seabed to the surface. The authors used previously developed method of control for the effects of pyrotechnic reaction, i.e. mechanical damping of the shock wave in order to limit its harmful effects on the housing of the transport device performed also by controlling the time of pyrotechnic reaction. In theoretical research, particular attention was paid to determine the depth to which one can apply this method and determine the energy needed for transport depending on the density of the transported material (spoil). We compared the results of the reaction using potassium nitrate in the reaction with the use of ammonium nitrate. The results confirm the possibility of the use of pyrotechnic materials for the transportation of large depths.

KEYWORDS: Ammonium Nitrate, Transport from Seabed, Chemical Reaction, Pyrotechnic Material, Deep Water, Controlled Pyrotechnic Reaction, Lift Transport Module, Pyrotechnical Reaction

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