A dewatering system for separating a slurry into solid material and effluent water. The dewatering system comprises a plurality of support frames arranged to enclose an interior space of the dewatering system, with the interior space being configured to receive the slurry. The dewatering system further includes geo-fabric material positioned on a portion of the support frames, with the geo-fabric material being configured to filter the slurry received within the interior space, such that effluent water permeates through the geo-fabric material and is discharged from the interior space. The dewatering system further comprises a dump door assembly associated with at least one of the support frames, with the dump door assembly including a plurality of hatches configured to selectively open to allow effluent water to be discharged from the interior space of the dewatering system.

A dewatering system for separating a slurry into solid material and effluent water. The dewatering system comprises a plurality of support frames arranged to enclose an interior space of the dewatering system, with the interior space being configured to receive the slurry. The dewatering system further includes geo-fabric material positioned on a portion of the support frames, with the geo-fabric material being configured to filter the slurry received within the interior space, such that effluent water permeates through the geo-fabric material and is discharged from the interior space. The dewatering system further comprises a dump door assembly associated with at least one of the support frames, with the dump door assembly including a plurality of hatches configured to selectively open to allow effluent water to be discharged from the interior space of the dewatering system.

A mobile weed-sifting apparatus includes a manually-operated mobile frame including a primary fulcrum axis, and a secondary fulcrum axis disposed above the primary fulcrum axis and registered parallel thereto. Notably, a weed-sifting mechanism is rotatably and removably coupled to the mobile frame. Advantageously, the weed-sifting mechanism rotates in clockwise and counter clockwise directions about the secondary fulcrum axis as the mobile frame is displaced along forward and rearward directions, respectively, along a ground surface.

A mobile weed-sifting apparatus includes a manually-operated mobile frame including a primary fulcrum axis, and a secondary fulcrum axis disposed above the primary fulcrum axis and registered parallel thereto. Notably, a weed-sifting mechanism is rotatably and removably coupled to the mobile frame. Advantageously, the weed-sifting mechanism rotates in clockwise and counter clockwise directions about the secondary fulcrum axis as the mobile frame is displaced along forward and rearward directions, respectively, along a ground surface.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for recovering mature fine tailings (MFT) from oil sands tailings ponds. Some examples include a hollow, fully enclosed around its perimeter, ideally of cylindrical form, open bottom structure (a hollow conduit), of predetermined geometry, which is placed at the pond surface. The hollow conduit can penetrate MFT deposits to or below a level at which MFT of required density is located. A width or diameter of the hollow conduit can be determined with respect to the MFT inflow velocity and the corresponding shear rate, so as to enable MFT flow into the hollow conduit at a rate matching a rate at which the MFT is removed from the pond (e.g., a recovery rate). An MFT fill level inside the hollow conduit can be kept constant and equal to a required fill level throughout MFT recovery operations. MFT can enter the hollow conduit during MFT recovery operations solely under action of hydraulic head pressure. MFT can be transferred from within the hollow conduit utilizing a mechanical device such as a pump or a siphon, for transfer to shore based facilities and further processing.

An apparatus, system and method for removing and treating contaminated materials on a bottom of a body of water and introducing growth packets to revitalize the treated bottom of the body of water. The structure may comprise a vessel with an open face. The vessel may be lowered down to the bottom of the body of water with the face facing down. As a result, the vessel and the bottom form an isolated space. The structure may comprise at least one agitating device(s) for stirring up the materials inside the vessel so as to form a mixture containing the sediment materials which in turn contain the contaminants. Multiple at least one pipe(s) may be coupled to the vessel for transporting the mixture out of the vessel for processing (filtering, treating with chemicals, etc.) so as to neutralize or eliminate the contaminants in the mixture. Then, the treated mixture can be returned to the inside of the vessel via the at least one pipe(s).

A multi-stage seafloor mining system that has at least concentration stage, a reclamation stage, and a haulage stage. The system includes a concentrating system (50) that processes seafloor materials, a reclaimer machine (300) that collects the processed seafloor materials, and a mechanical haulage system (40) that receives the processed seafloor materials collected by the reclaimer machine (300) and conveys discrete parcels of the processed seafloor materials to a surface vessel (100).

A portable waste treatment apparatus for treating hydro-excavation waste includes an elongate frame formed from separable upper and lower frame sections mounted upon one another. The upper frame section houses a mixing tank for receiving waste slurry and for mixing the waste slurry with flocculating and/or coagulating agents. A thickener tank receives waste slurry from the mixing tank, and a dewatering device is provided for dewatering sludge collected in the thickener tank. The lower frame section houses a buffer tank arranged to receive sludge from a sludge outlet of the thickener tank. A pump is provided for pumping the sludge to the dewatering device, and a water tank is arranged to receive water overflowing from the thickener tank.

A portable waste treatment apparatus for treating hydro-excavation waste includes an elongate frame formed from separable upper and lower frame sections mounted upon one another. The upper frame section houses a mixing tank for receiving waste slurry and for mixing the waste slurry with flocculating and/or coagulating agents. A thickener tank receives waste slurry from the mixing tank, and a dewatering device is provided for dewatering sludge collected in the thickener tank. The lower frame section houses a buffer tank arranged to receive sludge from a sludge outlet of the thickener tank. A pump is provided for pumping the sludge to the dewatering device, and a water tank is arranged to receive water overflowing from the thickener tank.

The present invention provides a system, apparatus, and method for harvesting objects from the bottom of aquatic environments. The invention preferably provides a system, apparatus, and method for utilizing swarms of autonomous harvesting vehicles to harvest polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor.