Institut Francais Du Pe'trole

Patrick Antier

Emile Levallois

Jacques Delacour

Francois-Xavier Saint Martin

Devices for recovering polymetal compounds discharged from a submarine hydrothermal source comprise a bell-shaped collector member provided with a flexible skirt and placed just above the hydrothermal source to cover it substantially tightly. The device includes means connected to said collector for withdrawing hydrothermal fluid from the source and means are provided for concentrating the polymetal compounds thereof by settling or by centrifugation with a pipe for raising the so-concentrated flow to a surface installation associated with a bottom turbine energized by power derived from the hydrothermal fluid energy.

Devices for recovering polymetal compounds discharged from a submarine

A process and device for recovering polymetal compounds discharge from a submarine hydrothermal source comprises the use of a device comprising a bell-shaped collector member provided with a flexible skirt and placed just above the hydrothermal source to cover it substantially tightly. Means are connected to said collector for withdrawing hydrothermal fluid from the source and means are provided for concentrating the polymetal compounds thereof by settling or by centrifugation with a pipe for raising the so-concentrated flow to a surface installation associated with a bottom turbine energized by power derived from the hydrothermal fluid energy.

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Niort, France

Patrick Antier