Striving for strength at sea, building a "national treasure" - Wan Buyan, a "model of the times"

He not only loves to read martial arts novels, but also practices iron sand palm

He not only plays the violin

He is also a "romantic expert" who has spoiled his wife for more than 30 years.

This is ordinary like you and me in daily life

People who like singing, walking and stargazing

But it is the one who drills in the deep sea of ​​more than 2,000 meters,

The "master" who retrieved the seabed core

Wan Buyan, Chief Scientist of China's "Manatee" Project

Wan Buyan, male, Han nationality, was born in January 1964 in Huarong, Hunan Province. He is a member of the Communist Party of China and currently a professor and doctoral supervisor at Hunan University of Science and Technology and a representative of the 14th National People's Congress. He keeps in mind the original mission of the Communists, upholds the concept of serving the country with science and technology, consciously practices the spirit of scientists, takes the needs of the motherland as his goal, and fulfills the responsibilities and missions entrusted by the Party and the people in the new era in an exemplary manner. He aims at the forefront of world science and technology and focuses on major national strategic needs. For more than 30 years, he has been rooted in the research of marine resource exploration technology, leading the team to make every effort to break through key core technical difficulties, and has made pioneering contributions to the research and development of marine mineral exploration technology and equipment in my country. He has devoted himself to moral education, paid attention to teaching by words and deeds, vigorously encouraged students, built a high-level innovation team, and cultivated a large number of young scientific and technological talents.

He has presided over and completed more than 40 national 863 projects, national key R&D projects, national long-term development projects and provincial and ministerial scientific research projects, and won titles such as "National Outstanding Professional and Technical Talent" and "Young and Middle-aged Experts with Outstanding Contributions". He was named "Most Beautiful Teacher" in 2021. In 2022, the deep-sea mineral resources development technology and equipment teaching team was selected into the second batch of "National Huang Danian-style Teaching Teams in Colleges and Universities".

On May 22, 2023, the Central Propaganda Department awarded Comrade Wan Buyan the title of "Model of the Times".

At the ceremony, the "Decision of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee on Awarding Comrade Wan Buyan the Title of 'Model of the Times'" was read out, and a short film reflecting his advanced deeds was played. The responsible comrade of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee awarded Comrade Wan Buyan the "Model of the Times" medal and certificate. Relevant responsible comrades from the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Hunan Provincial Party Committee, as well as scientific and technological workers, and representatives of teachers and students from universities attended the ceremony.

Drilling a "China Hole" in the Deep Ocean

On April 7, 2021, the "Manatee Family" was boiling again.

China's first "Manatee II" seabed large-hole deep pressure-maintaining coring drilling rig system successfully drilled 231 meters on the seabed, setting a new world record.

With completely independently developed key technologies, more than 150 national patents and 16 international invention patents, the success of "Manatee II" means that my country's seabed mineral resource exploration and production equipment technology has basically met the exploration needs of marine resources.

The research vessel pulled a trawl made of a steel frame and iron chains and ran for dozens of kilometers. Whether it could fish out some surface ore depended entirely on luck, and it was impossible to determine the exact location of the ore on the seabed. This was China's deep-sea exploration at the beginning.

Later, some developed countries' offshore drilling rigs began to use communication cables, while the offshore drilling rigs rented by my country could only dive deep into the sea with a trawl, and the underwater information could not be uploaded.

The China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (hereinafter referred to as "China Ocean Association") decided to invite bids nationwide to independently develop an undersea drilling rig. Because of their past research experience, Wan Buyan's team won the bid!

The only "information" was rented, the drilling rig only had parameters and basic principles, and all key technologies had to start from scratch.

Lacking a foundation, Wan Buyan began to teach himself marine geology and environment, mechanical design, communications, power supply, automatic control... There were no blueprints. Wan Buyan drew and experimented by himself, drew thousands of pictures, and tried countless times...

In order to solve the problem of power supply thousands of meters underwater, he and his team decided to use small, high-energy-storage lithium batteries to replace bulky storage batteries. However, how can lithium batteries used on land be put into the deep sea with strong pressure and strong corrosion?

"Lithium batteries are very likely to short-circuit and explode when exposed to water. It was like doing research while holding a pack of dynamite." A team member recalled that there were several dangerous situations in the laboratory where underwater explosions damaged equipment.

After countless experiments, Wan Buyan explored a reasonable way to wrap the lithium battery, and adopted a unique technical solution to achieve rapid heat dissipation and cooling of the lithium battery tube.

Wan Buyan's wife Liu Shuying remembers that during the development of the first submarine drilling rig, her husband worked in the laboratory until two or three in the morning every day for at least two to three months...

"The country has given us the task. We can't just go around trawling with a trawl, right?" Wan Buyan would not go home until the problem was solved.

Night after night, bit by bit, they gnawed away at the "hard bone". In 2001, the Chinese finally developed their own offshore drilling rig!

Wan Buyan (second from right) explains the design principle of the drilling rig to the "Manatee II" team on the research vessel. Xinhua News Agency

But the problem arises again -

The research vessel purchased from abroad claimed to be able to bear 5 tons, but in fact it could only bear 2.5 tons. The 4.5-ton prototype was loaded on it, and the vessel broke down.

How easy is it to reduce the weight of a drilling rig by nearly 50%?

This was the most painful "weight loss" experience. For two years, Wan Buyan led the team to patiently reduce weight "pound by pound" until the target was reached.

In the summer of 2003, China's first deep-sea shallow strata core sampling drill successfully completed its sea trial, drilling 0.7 meters below the seabed and retrieving ore samples.

On that day, China's offshore drilling rig drilled the first hole on the seabed!

That day, Wan Buyan, who never drank, was drunk and very proud.

0.7 meters, 2 meters, 5 meters, 20 meters, 60 meters... the "Manatee Family" has not stopped its pace of deep-sea reclamation.

Digging forward bit by bit! Breaking through barriers one by one! Drilling deeper and deeper into the seabed!

Dongting teenagers cherish ocean dreams

Wan Buyan has an inextricable bond with the ocean throughout his life.

Born in Yueyang, Hunan in 1964, he grew up by the vast Dongting Lake. His grandfather joined the Red Army in his early years and died heroically for the revolution.

In the era of material scarcity, the government distributed 600 kilograms of rice every year as pensions for martyrs' families, and the legend of his grandfather was passed down by word of mouth among the neighbors. All these made the young Wan Buyan often think about what it meant to "dedicate one's life to the country."

In 1978, 14-year-old Wan Buyan took the college entrance examination in advance because of his outstanding talent, and filled in all his choices for aerospace and astronomy. However, he was transferred to the prospecting engineering major of the Geology Department of Central South University of Mining and Metallurgy, and 7 years later he was assigned to work at Changsha Mining Research Institute.

From looking up at the stars to gazing at the sea, Wan Buyan has found a new direction in his life.

In order to catch up with developed countries, Changsha Mining Research Institute established a marine mining laboratory.

“How powerful our deep-sea exploration technology is will determine how far our country can go.” These words of mobilization from the leader became Wan Buyan’s lifelong motivation.

In 1990, the China Ocean Association was established, and Wan Buyan's team began to formally engage in research tasks on ocean mining systems.

In 1992, Wan Buyan went to Japan to study marine mining technology. Wan Buyan, who has a Hunanese "brute force" in his bones, was unwilling to accept it and studied day and night. During the most tiring days and particularly difficult times, the doorplate of "Glorious Martyr's Family" at the door of his house always appeared in his mind.

A year later, he declined the high-paying job and returned to China resolutely.

However, reality gave him a blow.

Wan Buyan, who boarded an ocean-going research vessel for the first time, discovered that almost all the drilling equipment on the ship, from small sample tubes to large samplers and winches, were all "foreign brands".

"If foreigners can do it, Chinese people can definitely do it!" Wan Buyan's "brute force" came up again: "Where our country lags behind others is the direction I will work hard in!"

The thing I am least afraid of is difficulties

Wan Buyan, 59 years old, has a head of white hair. He said with a smile, "This is a gift from the sea."

He would never forget his first time on board a ship to go out to sea. For a whole week after leaving the port, he was almost unable to move due to seasickness and even vomited jaundiced water.

"We have to work and can't lie down all the time!" Wan Buyan struggled to support himself and got up. He stood for a while, then sat for a while, staggered and paced slowly on the deck, forced himself to eat, and then vomited it out... Finally, he was no longer seasick.

The working environment at sea is extremely special and almost "isolated from the world". Some things that are easy to do on land will become severe tests while at sea.

"It's stuck and the drilling rig can't come up!" In 2021, a deep-sea test of "Manatee II" got stuck.

The drilling rig had completed its seabed operations and was being recovered from the seabed when the supporting retractable winch imported from Denmark suddenly made a loud abnormal noise. Upon inspection, it was found that the transmission mechanism of the retractable winch's cable system was seriously damaged.

The drilling rig, which was worth tens of millions of yuan and the result of countless efforts, was suspended underwater.

At this moment, there are only two days left before the strong typhoon passes through this sea area! If the problem cannot be solved, the only option is to cut the umbilical cable and abandon the drilling rig on the seabed.

Urgently contacting the Danish manufacturer was fruitless, and seeking help from domestic agents was "powerless", and almost everyone was discouraged.

"After so many years of working on the sea, what we are least afraid of is difficulties!" Wan Buyan encouraged the team while racing against time to find a solution.

It was impossible to repair the transmission mechanism of the original cable system, so a temporary hydraulic system had to be built to replace the damaged parts. Wan Buyan quickly drew a design and removed the missing parts from the existing system... After more than 40 hours, a temporary system was completed.

"It's moving! It's responding!" Two hours before the typhoon arrived, the drilling rig was recovered intact, becoming an "incredible miracle" in the industry.

"Every time I go out to sea, my hair becomes 5% greyer." Wan Buyan's understatement condensed all the thrills.

The team spends two-thirds of their time at sea. When they are tired, they take a nap on the deck with bottles of mineral water as pillows.

On days when shelter from the wind is needed, the ship will anchor at an anchorage near the port. Wan Buyan, who is good at playing the violin, got a small blackboard and taught everyone how to read music, sing, and learn astronomy in the small cafeteria.

He has a moving voice, is good at playing table tennis, and can gaze at the stars... In everyone's eyes, this "little old man" is "hardworking, patient, and domineering", but also has a childlike nature.

"What others can do, we can definitely do. What others have not done yet, we Chinese may be able to do before them!" National People's Congress representative Wan Buyan confidently declared at the "Delegate Channel" of the 2023 National People's Congress.

Crossing the sea waves again and again, crossing the scientific research gap again and again. The deep-sea dream is engraved on the seabed by independent innovative technology; the Chinese heart surges in the hearts of scientists.

"Our goal is the sea of ​​stars." Wan Buyan said that in the future they will drill in deeper and wider seas!

source:

1. Wu Jing, Yuan Ruting, and Xie Ying. Drilling the “China Hole”: Striving for a Strong Ocean! — In Memory of Wan Buyan, Director of the Marine Laboratory of Hunan University of Science and Technology [N], Xinhua News Agency New Media, 2023-05-22

2. The "sea cow" that dives 2,000 meters deep into the sea is the most profound and romantic gift he gave to his motherland... [N], Times Model Release Hall, 2023-05-22