Brine mining

Abstract: The BrineMine Project is a German-Chilean multidisciplinary research project realized by research and industry partners. The focus is developing strategies for raw material and water extraction from geothermal springs (Brine Mining) in Chile. The topics can be separated into a geological/geochemical part and a mechanical engineering part, which are processed in close cooperation by the project consortium. In the first part, the economic potential of the dissolved raw materials in thermal spring waters in Chile is assessed by analyzing existing geochemical data of different sites. This is complemented by hydrogeochemical and geophysical exploration campaigns. The second part focuses on the development, construction and implementation of a prototype for pre-treatment and concentration of geothermal brines. With the comprehensive expertise of the team, a treatment strategy was developed and tested in a geothermal power plant, enabling controlled silica precipitation in order to overcome this limiting factor for geothermal energy production and associated raw material extraction. In this study, successful milestones of the BrineMine project are presented. The economic potential of elements in Chilean thermal waters is demonstrated. Additionally, the global potential of Brine Mining is outlined. The development of the silica treatment strategy is further described, as well as a possible integration of a prototype into an operating geothermal power plant. Finally, the construction and implementation of a large-scale first-generation prototype are presented with promising field results.

Abstract: The invention relates to a preparation process and a special device for salt with green food label. The device comprises mine brine mining equipment, an original brine barrel, a brine pretreatment system, a refined brine barrel and evaporation salt-making equipment, which are sequentially arranged. A salt slurry outlet of the evaporation salt-making equipment is sequentially provided with a centrifugal machine and a drying device, while a condensed water outlet of the evaporation salt-making equipment is communicated with the mine brine mining equipment; a refined brine countercurrent device for refined brine countercurrent backwashing salt slurry is arranged between the evaporation salt-making equipment and the centrifugal machine; and an outlet of the drying device is provided with a sieving machine, and a sieving machine outlet is provided with packaging equipment. The salt is prevented from caking by physical molecular structure of sodium chloride through improving production process and production equipment, optimizing process indexes and obviating potassium ferrocyanide and other anticaking agent. Qualification rate of iodized salt manufactured with the invention is 100%, the utilization rate of potassium iodate is 95%, the iodide content of finished product salt is steady and reliable; and the fluctuation range is within 5 mg/L.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brine mining process. The process incorporates a forward osmosis step wherein at least a portion of at least one process stream is provided to at least one forward osmosis unit. The process thus allows for the use of multiple sources, and qualities, of water, which, in turn, can reduce the reliance on natural water sources. Longevity of the mining, and any downstream, process equipment may be enhanced. At least a portion of the production stream may also be fed to a downstream process, such as a chlor-alkali process.

Abstract: The invention discloses an old well potential tapping process for an old mining area of rock salt. The process comprises the following steps: newly building a multi-branch horizontally butted well tobe communicated with salt cavities or horizontal sections of multiple old well groups with production reduction or shutdown at present for brine mining, monitoring and controlling the well track by using a clinometer during drilling of the vertical well section of the multi-branch horizontal well, controlling the well deflection azimuth by adopting a clinometer and a single-bend helicoid hydraulicmotor in the building-up section drilling process, adjusting the azimuth after getting round of old cavity or a roof blowby area towards a salt layer downdip direction, and drilling towards a buttedtarget well, and therefore, the safety drilling is facilitated, the salt control area is enlarged, and the brine production and brine density are increased.