Salt lake brine evaporation efficiency improving system and method based on mirror reflection
The brine evaporation system, which combines mirror reflection and phase change materials, solves the problems of low efficiency, long cycle, and high energy consumption in the traditional salt field method, and realizes a highly efficient and stable brine evaporation process.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- WUHAN SURVEYING GEOTECHN RES INST OF MCC
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Traditional salt field evaporation methods for salt lake brine have low evaporation efficiency, long production cycles, large land area requirements, significant environmental disturbances, and are subject to climate conditions. Existing mechanical evaporators have high energy consumption and poor economic efficiency.
The brine evaporation system employs mirror reflection, combining a mirror array and a heating sphere. It utilizes solar energy reflection and phase change material heat storage to optimize the brine tank structure, thereby achieving time-space air conditioning and uniform distribution of energy.
It significantly improves brine evaporation efficiency, shortens production cycle, reduces floor space, lowers energy consumption, enhances system stability and environmental adaptability, and enables efficient all-weather utilization of solar energy.
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Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The application belongs to the technical field of solar energy utilization and salt chemical industry, and particularly relates to a salt lake brine evaporation efficiency improving system and method based on mirror reflection. BACKGROUND
[0002] Potash, as the core raw material for manufacturing potash fertilizer, is a key strategic mineral resource for guaranteeing China's food security and agricultural development. China's potash resources are mainly deposited in modern salt lakes, such as the Qarhan Salt Lake and the Lop Nur Salt Lake. However, after decades of high-intensity development, typical mining areas represented by the Qarhan Salt Lake are facing the severe challenges of rapid consumption of total salt lake brine resources and gradual decline of natural brine grade. Under this background, liquid mining of large amounts of low-grade solid potash in salt lakes has become one of the most important ways to ensure the sustainable supply of high-quality brine.
[0003] Whether it is natural brine or low-grade brine after liquid mining, the current mainstream process is to rely on a salt field (evaporation pond) system. According to the water-salt phase diagram, water in the brine is evaporated by solar energy, and various types of salts are crystallized and precipitated according to solubility. The main advantage of this method is to rely on free solar natural evaporation, without the need for additional fuel, and the operating cost is relatively low. However, its inherent defects are also very prominent:
[0004] (1) Low evaporation efficiency and long production cycle: The traditional salt field completely relies on solar radiation and wind action under natural conditions, and the evaporation rate is slow, which leads to a very long cycle of brine concentration and crystallization, making it difficult to meet the timeliness requirements of brine supply.
[0005] (2) Large occupied area and significant environmental disturbance: Due to the low evaporation rate, a wide area of salt field must be built to achieve the predetermined evaporation amount. This not only occupies a large amount of land resources, but also changes the composition of local groundwater due to leakage and other problems during long-term operation of the salt field, which has potential risks of disrupting the water balance and ecological balance.
[0006] (3) Severely restricted by climate conditions: The evaporation amount completely depends on local meteorological conditions. In areas with frequent rainfall, the evaporation efficiency is greatly reduced, further exacerbating the land occupation problem; in high-cold areas with salt lakes, the production efficiency is particularly low, and the annual effective production time is short; and due to the characteristics of large diurnal temperature difference and variable weather conditions in salt lake areas, the traditional salt field evaporation process is easily affected by environmental changes.
[0007] To overcome the limitations of the salt field method, some processes currently employ mechanical evaporators or utilize wind or electricity to force evaporation by consuming low-pressure steam or electricity, achieving continuous and stable production. However, their fatal drawback lies in the fact that with the expansion of evaporation scale, energy consumption and corresponding fossil fuel consumption increase dramatically, resulting in poor economic efficiency and contradicting the concept of green and low-carbon development. Therefore, developing a new evaporation technology that can significantly improve natural evaporation efficiency, shorten the production cycle, reduce land occupation, and maintain the advantages of low cost and low energy consumption is of vital importance for ensuring my country's potassium resource security and promoting the sustainable development of the salt lake industry. Summary of the Invention
[0008] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this invention aims to provide a system and method for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on mirror reflection. This method effectively improves the brine evaporation rate and ensures the long-term operational reliability of the system through a simple and low-cost systematic design.
[0009] To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives, the present invention provides a system for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on mirror reflection. The system includes a mirror array and a brine evaporation tank. The mirror array is arranged on one side of the brine evaporation tank. The mirror array consists of multiple sets of reflecting units arranged in a straight line along the brine evaporation tank. Each set of reflecting units is fixed to the ground adjacent to the brine evaporation tank by an angle adjustment frame. The angle adjustment frame is located on the back of the mirror array. The reflecting surface of the mirror array is the brine evaporation tank. The angle adjustment structure includes a supporting column, a rotating mechanism, and a motor positioning device. The reflecting unit is rotatably connected to the supporting column through the rotating mechanism. The motor positioning device is used to control the reflection unit to rotate along the rotating mechanism and to position it, thereby rotating the tilt angle of the mirror array to a preset angle.
[0010] The preferred technical solution of the present invention is as follows: multiple heating balls are distributed in the brine evaporation tank, the multiple heating balls float on the surface of the brine in the brine evaporation tank, and are connected to the bottom of the tank through an anchoring structure.
[0011] The preferred technical solution of the present invention is as follows: the brine evaporation tank adopts a gradually deepening bottom structure, and the bottom surface of the tank gradually becomes shallower from the inlet side to the outlet side; the brine evaporation tank is divided by multiple flow guiding components, forming an S-shaped channel from the inlet to the outlet; a heat-absorbing and waterproof membrane is laid on the bottom and side slope of the brine evaporation tank; the water flow direction in the brine evaporation tank is parallel to the arrangement direction of the reflector array and perpendicular to the orientation of the reflectors.
[0012] The preferred technical solution of the present invention is as follows: each set of reflective units includes a reflective panel and a back support frame, the back support frame being rotatably connected to the support column through a rotating mechanism; the reflective panel is made of a high-reflectivity anodized aluminum plate with a silicon dioxide protective layer on the surface, and its solar reflectivity is not less than 0.85; the back support frame is made of weather-resistant aluminum alloy profile.
[0013] The preferred technical solution of the present invention is as follows: the supporting column is fixed to the ground by a concrete foundation, the motor positioning device adopts a positioning shaft with a motor, an arc-shaped or semi-circular positioning frame is provided on the back of the reflecting unit, and multiple adjustment holes are equally spaced on the positioning frame. The supporting column is provided with corresponding positioning holes. The position of the adjustment holes is set according to the theoretical noon tilt angle of the solar terms of spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox and winter solstice. The motor rotates the shaft to drive the reflecting mirror to adjust to the preset angle. The angle is fixed by bolts or pins that align the adjustment holes with the positioning holes. The adjustment range is 0° to 180°.
[0014] The preferred technical solution of the present invention is as follows: the reflector array is arranged in a straight line along the longest side of the brine evaporation tank and is parallel to the brine evaporation tank. The distance between the reflector array and the brine evaporation tank is 0.3 to 1 times the width of the brine tank. The ratio of the total effective reflective area of the reflector array to the surface area of the brine evaporation tank is 0.5:1 to 2:1.
[0015] The preferred technical solution of the present invention is as follows: multiple fixed piles are provided at the bottom of the brine evaporation tank; the heating ball is a floating structure, consisting of a top heat insulation buoyancy layer, a bottom heat storage layer and an outer covering layer, wherein the bottom heat storage layer is filled with phase change material and the phase change temperature is higher than the ambient temperature; each heating ball is provided with a connecting ring at the bottom, which is connected to the fixed piles at the bottom of the tank by an anchor rope, the length of which is 1 to 1.5 times the depth of the tank.
[0016] This invention also provides a method for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on specular reflection, characterized in that the method uses the salt lake brine evaporation efficiency improvement system based on specular reflection described in claim 2, and the specific steps are as follows:
[0017] S1. Before the system is running, adjust the tilt angle of the reflector array to the corresponding preset position using the angle adjustment frame according to the local latitude and longitude and the current date;
[0018] S2. On a clear day, the solar radiation system, with an array of reflectors arranged on one side of the brine pool, directs a large amount of solar radiation that cannot directly reach the pool surface to the entire surface of the brine pool. This allows the surface of the brine pool to simultaneously receive direct radiation and dense reflected radiation, forming a "composite enhanced radiation field" with a significantly higher energy density than the natural state. The temperature of the brine in the pool begins to rise rapidly, increasing evaporation efficiency. The heating balls floating in the pool efficiently absorb heat and collect it.
[0019] S3. When there is no sunlight at night or on a cloudy day, the ambient temperature drops and the brine begins to cool. At this time, the heating ball releases heat to warm the surrounding brine, thereby extending the effective evaporation time.
[0020] The preferred technical solution of the present invention is as follows: the heating ball is composed of a top heat insulation buoyancy layer, a bottom heat storage layer and an outer covering layer. The bottom heat storage layer is a phase change material, the outer covering layer is a black heat-absorbing material, and the heating ball is evenly distributed in the brine tank.
[0021] In step S2, the heating spheres, which are evenly distributed in the pool during the day, efficiently absorb heat through their black outer skin. Due to the self-stability of the sphere structure, the bottom heat storage layer naturally faces downwards, and the heat is preferentially guided to the phase change material at the bottom. The heat insulation layer at the top of the sphere minimizes the loss of heat into the air. After absorbing heat, the phase change material melts into a liquid state, converting a large amount of solar radiation energy into latent heat of phase change for storage. The excess heat energy will be further transferred through contact with the brine.
[0022] In step S3, when there is no sunlight at night or on a cloudy day, the temperature of the phase change material in the heat storage layer at the bottom of the heating ball drops below the freezing point, and it begins to solidify from a liquid state to a solid state, and stably releases the stored latent heat of phase change to the surrounding brine which is at a lower temperature.
[0023] The preferred technical solution of this invention is as follows: The bottom of the brine tank is a gradually deepening type to ensure the balance of heat absorption and evaporation in different areas of the brine. Furthermore, a flow guide is provided to form an S-shaped channel, extending the brine flow path and forcing the high-temperature surface water and the middle and lower layers of water to mix thoroughly during flow, thus ensuring uniform heating of the brine throughout the entire tank.
[0024] This invention utilizes an array of reflectors arranged on one side of a brine evaporation tank to reflect and concentrate direct solar radiation onto the surface of the brine tank, forming a composite enhanced radiation field with an energy density higher than that under natural conditions. An angle adjustment structure periodically adjusts the tilt angle of the reflector array to a corresponding preset position according to seasonal changes in the solar altitude angle. A heat-absorbing and waterproof membrane laid at the bottom of the tank enhances the absorption of incident and reflected solar radiation. Heating spheres distributed in the brine absorb heat from solar radiation and transfer it to the surface using the solid-liquid phase change process of their internal phase change materials. The floating heating sphere stores excess solar energy as latent heat of phase change. At night or when there is insufficient radiation, the stored latent heat of phase change is stably released by utilizing the liquid-solid phase change process of the phase change material inside the floating heating sphere, and the heat is preferentially directed to the brine by its asymmetric structure. The brine is guided to form a specific flow path on the gradually deepening bottom of the brine through the flow guiding components in the brine evaporation tank, which promotes uniform mixing and temperature equilibrium of the water. The bottom of the floating heating sphere is connected to the fixed piles on the bottom of the tank by anchor ropes to prevent it from accumulating and to generate water flow disturbance when the water fluctuates or is disturbed by wind.
[0025] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following technical effects:
[0026] (1) This invention organically combines the reflection enhancement system with the existing salt field, avoiding the complex automatic tracking system and saving construction and maintenance costs. The system of this invention adopts a single-sided mirror field layout and functional zoning design. The system improves the evaporation efficiency of salt field brine through the dual effects of reflection enhancement and thermal energy time shift, thereby significantly shortening the production cycle.
[0027] (2) Due to the ordinary salt field sun-drying process, the brine is in a completely passive evaporation state, and the evaporation efficiency at night is significantly reduced, which seriously restricts the production efficiency. In the system of this invention, a directional heat storage and heating ball is set up to realize the time and air control of energy. The solar energy absorbed during the day can be transferred to the night for release, thereby enhancing the evaporation efficiency at night while strengthening the evaporation during the day, and improving the all-weather utilization efficiency of solar energy.
[0028] (3) The present invention has strong environmental adaptability. It can select the appropriate mirror field concentration ratio and phase change material temperature according to the geographical location, climate conditions and corresponding production needs of different salt lake areas. The tilt angle of the mirror array in the system can be adjusted according to the season and time period. The distance between the mirror field and the pool can be adjusted according to the actual site conditions. When it rains, the mirror array can also be adjusted to a safe position by the angle adjustment frame to avoid the accumulation of dirt on the mirror.
[0029] (4) The design of the gradually deepening pool bottom and the flow guiding component adopted in this invention can not only optimize the flow path of the brine to improve the uniformity of heat distribution, but also extend the residence time of the brine through the “S” shaped flow channel. Combined with the more stable temperature environment, the brine can fully absorb and retain heat. The design of the pool bottom as a gentle slope from west to east can adapt to the evaporation intensity requirements of different areas, and realize the integration of evaporation process optimization and heat energy utilization.
[0030] (5) The present invention adopts an asymmetric phase change material structure in the floating heating ball. The phase change material can absorb the excess heat generated by the reflector array and solar radiation during the day and convert it into latent heat of phase change. When the ambient temperature drops at night, it releases the latent heat of phase change. That is, the constant temperature latent heat generated by the phase change material during phase change is used to maintain the brine temperature near the phase change temperature, thereby stabilizing the temperature of the evaporation environment within a certain range. At the same time, since the heating ball adopts the design of bottom heat storage and top heat insulation, it can effectively guide the heat to be released into the water and reduce the heat loss into the air.
[0031] This system features a simple structure and strong adaptability, while retaining the advantages of traditional salt field processes such as low energy consumption and easy maintenance. Through the setting of seasonal and time-specific adjustment structures, positioning points can be set according to key solar terms, ensuring high reflection efficiency at different times and improving the system's thermal energy utilization efficiency, thereby enhancing the stability of the evaporation process. This system can also mitigate the impact of external environmental fluctuations on the brine evaporation process, thus improving the stability of evaporation efficiency. The method of this invention can significantly shorten the production cycle, improve evaporation efficiency, enhance system operational stability, and achieve efficient all-weather utilization of solar energy, providing a reliable and economical enhancement solution for salt lake brine evaporation. Attached Figure Description
[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall layout of the system of the present invention.
[0033] Figure 2 Front view of the mirror array and angle adjustment frame
[0034] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a floating heating sphere.
[0035] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of the system.
[0036] The labels in the attached diagram are: 1. Mirror array; 11. Reflective panel; 12. Back support frame;
[0037] 2. Angle adjustment frame; 21. Support column; 22. Rotation mechanism; 23. Motor positioning device; 24. Positioning frame; 25. Adjustment hole; 26. Positioning hole; 31. Flow guiding component; 3. Brine evaporation tank; 32. Fixing pile; 33. Heat-absorbing and waterproof membrane; 4. Heating ball; 41. Top heat insulation buoyancy layer; 42. Bottom heat storage layer; 43. Outer covering layer; 44. Anchor rope. Detailed Implementation
[0038] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0039] The system and method proposed in this invention are an important improvement to the traditional salt field evaporation process. Its innovation lies not only in significantly improving evaporation efficiency, but also in achieving the stabilization and sustainability of the evaporation process through systematic energy management.
[0040] Example 1 provides a system for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on mirror reflection, such as... Figure 1As shown, the system includes a mirror array 1 and a brine evaporation tank 3. The mirror array 1 is arranged on the north side of the brine evaporation tank 3. The mirror array 1 consists of multiple sets of reflecting units arranged in a straight line along the long north side of the brine evaporation tank 3. Each set of reflecting units is fixed to the ground adjacent to the brine evaporation tank 3 by an angle adjustment frame 2. The angle adjustment frame 2 is located on the back of the reflecting unit and is used to support and adjust the mirror angle. The reflecting surface of the reflecting unit faces the brine evaporation tank 3. The distance between the mirror array 1 and the brine evaporation tank 3 is 0.3 to 1 times the width of the brine tank. The ratio of the total effective reflecting area of the mirror array 1 to the surface area of the brine evaporation tank 3 is 0.5:1 to 2:1. The inlet of the brine evaporation tank 3 is located on the west side, and the outlet is located on the east side. The brine evaporation tank 3 adopts a bottom structure that gradually deepens from the inlet to the outlet, with the bottom gradually becoming shallower from west to east at a slope of 1:20, higher in the west and lower in the east, flowing eastward. A series of 50cm high flow guide components 31 are installed inside the tank. These flow guide components 31 can be 50cm high guide plates, dividing the tank into a series of "S"-shaped flow channels in the north-south direction. This extends the brine residence time, breaks up temperature stratification, effectively extends the brine flow path, and promotes uniform water temperature distribution. The water flow direction in the brine evaporation tank 3 is parallel to the direction of the reflectors and perpendicular to their orientation. The water flow direction forms an acute angle with the extension direction of the flow guide components, and the guide components are only located at the bottom of the tank. This extends the water flow distance, obstructs the bottom flow, and allows the upper and lower water flows to mix due to their different velocities, thus enabling the water temperature to be balanced horizontally and vertically through the flow. By using flow guiding components, a gradually deepening pool bottom, and floating balls, the water flow is disturbed and turbulent, which accelerates the equilibrium of water temperature and results in uniform heating.
[0041] In the embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, multiple floating heating balls 4 are evenly distributed in the brine evaporation tank 3, and each floating heating ball 4 is evenly distributed in the brine of the brine evaporation tank 3 by an anchoring system. Figure 3As shown, the floating heating sphere 4 consists of a top insulating buoyancy layer 41, a bottom heat storage layer 42, and an outer covering layer 43. The top insulating buoyancy layer 41 can be made of a low-density, low-thermal-conductivity closed-cell foam material (such as polyurethane foam or polystyrene foam). This material provides the main buoyancy, ensuring the sphere floats. As a highly efficient thermal insulation layer, it greatly prevents heat loss from the sphere's interior to the air above. In this embodiment, the top insulating buoyancy layer 41 is made of polyurethane foam, providing buoyancy and isolating heat loss. The bottom heat storage layer 42 is filled with a high-density phase change material (modified hydrated salts with a phase change temperature between 45°C and 65°C, such as sodium acetate trihydrate)). In this embodiment, the bottom heat storage layer 42 is made of a sodium acetate trihydrate composite phase change material with a phase change temperature of 58°C, used for heat storage and release. The outer covering layer 43 is made of a black reinforced HDPE film, which has good corrosion resistance and heat absorption properties. Multiple fixed piles 32 are evenly fixed at the bottom of the brine evaporation tank 3. Each heating ball 4 has a metal connecting ring at the bottom and is connected to the fixed piles 32 at the bottom of the tank by a nylon anchor rope 44. The length of the anchor rope is 1.3 times the depth of the tank. A heat-absorbing and waterproof membrane 33 is laid on the bottom and slope of the brine evaporation tank 3.
[0042] The working process of the heating sphere 4 is as follows: During the day, it absorbs and stores heat. Solar radiation (direct and reflected) is absorbed by the black outer skin of the sphere and converted into heat energy. Since the sphere is self-stabilized with its bottom facing down, and the bottom is a heat storage layer, the heat is preferentially and efficiently conducted to the phase change material at the bottom, causing it to melt and store heat. The insulation layer at the top effectively reduces upward heat loss. At night or when there is insufficient radiation, it releases heat in a directional manner. When the ambient temperature drops and the brine cools, the high-density phase change material at the bottom begins to solidify first. The released latent heat of phase change is transferred directly to the surrounding brine, which is at a lower temperature and needs heat the most, through the outer shell of the sphere. The insulation layer at the top continues to play its role, like the "cap of a thermos," preventing the internal heat from radiating into the night sky, forcing the heat to be released almost only underwater.
[0043] In the embodiments, such as Figure 2As shown, each set of reflective units includes a reflective panel 11 and a back support frame 12. The reflective panel 11 is made of high-reflectivity anodized aluminum plate with a silicon dioxide protective layer on the surface, and its solar reflectivity is not less than 0.85. The mirror size of the reflective panel 11 of a single reflective unit is 0.5m × 1.2m. The entire reflective array has a total of 6 reflective panels 11. The back support frame 12 is made of weather-resistant aluminum alloy profile to provide stable support for the reflective panels. The back support frame 12 can be set as the support frame for a single reflective unit, or the support frames 12 of multiple reflective units can be connected into a whole. The angle adjustment frame 2 includes a support column 21, a rotating mechanism 22, and a motor positioning device 23. The support column 21 is fixed to the ground by a concrete foundation. The back support frame 12 is connected to the rotating mechanism 22. The motor positioning device 23 uses a positioning shaft with a motor. An arc-shaped or semi-circular positioning frame 24 is provided on the back of the reflecting unit, and multiple adjustment holes 25 are equally spaced on the positioning frame 24. A corresponding positioning hole 26 is provided on the support column 21. The position of the adjustment hole 25 is set according to the theoretical noon tilt angle of the solar terms such as the spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox, and winter solstice. The motor rotates the shaft to drive the reflecting mirror to adjust to the preset angle. The angle is fixed by bolts or pins that align the adjustment hole 25 with the positioning hole 26. The adjustment range is 0° to 180°.
[0044] An arc-shaped plate with a series of positioning holes is installed on the rotating axis of the reflector unit, and it cooperates with the fixed base via a motor. By changing the positioning hole driven by the motor, the tilt angle of the reflector unit can be fixed at a preset position. This mechanism allows the tilt angle of the reflector array to be adjusted within the range of 0° to 180°, and the preset positions include, but are not limited to, the theoretical noon tilt angle settings for the four key solar terms: the vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox, and winter solstice.
[0045] The method for calculating the tilt angle of the reflector is as follows: Prerequisite parameters: latitude 37°N, brine pool located directly south of the reflector, horizontal distance D (meters), water surface height 0 (meters), reflector installation height H (vertical distance from the center of the mirror to the ground, unit: meters), the reflector array can rotate around the horizontal axis in the east-west direction, the tilt angle β is defined as the angle between the plane of the reflector and the horizontal plane, annual accumulated days n, true solar time t (hours), let the coordinates of the center of the reflector be (0,0,H), and the coordinates of the center of the brine pool be (0,-D,0).
[0046] Solar declination δ:
[0047] Hour angle ω: (ω=0 at noon, positive in the morning and negative in the afternoon.)
[0048] Solar altitude angle h:
[0049] Solar azimuth A: (Azimuth A is calculated clockwise from true north, with 180 degrees for true south)
[0050] Sunlight incident vector S (unit vector):
[0051] Target direction vector R (unit vector):
[0052] Mirror normal vector N (unit vector, according to the law of reflection SN<0 (mirror face towards the sun)): ;
[0053] Since the mirror rotates around its east-west axis, the normal lies in the north-south vertical plane, i.e., Nx = 0. In the north-south plane, the normal components Ny and Nz are related to the tilt angle β as follows: (When β=0, the normal points upwards, and the mirror surface is horizontal and facing upwards; when β=90, the normal points south, and the mirror surface is vertical and facing south.) Calculate the components in the north-south plane:
[0054]
[0055]
[0056]
[0057]
[0058]
[0059] The final tilt angle β is calculated by the following formula: ,
[0060] Typically, β is set to 0°–90°. In practical applications, calibration is required based on the specific installation method of the reflector array (such as initial angle offset). If the brine pool is not due south or has an east-west offset, the target vector R needs to be adjusted, but the formula still applies. Seasons and daily time affect the sun's position through δ and ω, thus dynamically adjusting the position.
[0061] Specific applications of Example 1, such as Figure 4 As shown, before the system operates, the tilt angle of the reflector array 1 is adjusted to the corresponding preset position using the angle adjustment frame 2, based on the local latitude and longitude and the current season. Taking the summer solstice at Chaka Salt Lake (37°N) as an example, the tilt angle of the array is adjusted to approximately 80° at noon. With D=3.3 m, H=5 m, n=172 on the summer solstice, δ=23.45°, and ω=0 at noon.
[0062]
[0063] get
[0064]
[0065]
[0066]
[0067] get
[0068] During the day, the sunlight irradiation system, with reflector array 1, reflects sunlight onto the surface of the brine evaporation tank 3, forming a composite enhanced radiation field. The black bottom of the brine tank and the brine itself strongly absorb radiant energy, causing the water temperature to rise rapidly. The gradually deepening bottom ensures balanced heat absorption in different areas of the brine, while the flow guiding component 31 promotes thorough mixing between the high-temperature surface water and the middle and lower layers. The black outer skin of the floating heating sphere 4 efficiently absorbs heat; due to the self-stability of the sphere structure, heat is preferentially directed to the phase change material at the bottom. After absorbing heat, the phase change material melts into a liquid state, converting solar energy into latent heat of phase change for storage. The anchoring rope 44 generates subtle disturbances with the water surface fluctuations, disrupting the thermal boundary layer and enhancing heat transfer efficiency.
[0069] At night, as the ambient temperature drops, the phase change material in the heat storage layer at the bottom of the heating sphere begins to solidify, steadily releasing the stored latent heat of phase change. Thanks to the protection of the top insulation layer, almost all the heat is transferred to the brine through the bottom. This allows the brine pool to maintain a "warm microenvironment" significantly higher than the ambient temperature at night, effectively extending the effective evaporation time.
[0070] In severe weather conditions, the reflector array 1 can be adjusted to a safe position (mirror facing down) using the angle adjustment bracket 2 to prevent damage from strong winds and dirt buildup on the equipment.
[0071] The brine evaporation system provided by this invention cleverly combines reflection enhancement and phase change thermal storage technologies. The system achieves energy input gain through a reflector array, realizes temporal and terrestrial energy control through floating heating spheres, and achieves efficient energy utilization through optimized pool structure. The coordinated operation of all components significantly improves brine evaporation efficiency.
[0072] The system described in this embodiment has the following effects in specific applications:
[0073] (1) Energy gain and efficiency improvement: The total effective reflective area S1 of the reflector array, the surface area S2 of the brine evaporation pool, the specular reflectivity ρ (0.85~0.9), the optical efficiency n (0.5~0.8), and the solar radiation received by the brine evaporation pool E = total solar radiation intensity × (S1*ρ*n+S2). When the concentration ratio S1:S2=1, the solar radiation received by the reflector array will be increased by at least 40%, which greatly solves the problem of low solar energy input density in the traditional salt field evaporation process.
[0074] (2) Thermal energy management and stability: The directional thermal storage characteristics of the floating heating ball improve the utilization rate of thermal energy at night, effectively suppress the temperature difference between day and night, and extend the effective evaporation time throughout the day to ensure the stability of the evaporation process.
[0075] (3) System reliability and adaptability: The motor-driven angle adjustment frame and anchoring system avoid complex control devices, which significantly improves the system reliability and environmental adaptability.
[0076] In summary, the salt lake brine evaporation system of this invention achieves a significant improvement in evaporation efficiency and stable and reliable system operation through innovative structural design and energy management strategies. This technical solution has significant application value and promising prospects in the field of salt lake brine evaporation.
[0077] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.
Claims
1. A system for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on mirror reflection, characterized in that: The system includes a reflector array (1) and a brine evaporation tank (3). The reflector array (1) is arranged on one side of the brine evaporation tank (3). The reflector array (1) consists of multiple sets of reflective units arranged in a straight line along the brine evaporation tank (3). Each set of reflective units is fixed to the ground near the brine evaporation tank (3) by an angle adjustment frame (2). The angle adjustment frame (2) is set on the back of the reflector array (1). The reflective surface of the reflector array (1) is the brine evaporation tank (3). The angle adjustment structure (2) includes a support column (21), a rotating mechanism (22), and a motor positioning device (23). The reflective unit is rotatably connected to the support column (21) through the rotating mechanism (22). The motor positioning device (23) is used to control the reflective unit to rotate along the rotating mechanism (22) and to position it, thereby rotating the tilt angle of the reflector array (1) to a preset angle.
2. The system for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on mirror reflection according to claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple heating balls (4) are distributed inside the brine evaporation tank (3). The multiple heating balls (4) float on the surface of the brine in the brine evaporation tank (3) and are connected to the bottom of the tank through an anchoring structure.
3. A system for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on mirror reflection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The brine evaporation tank (3) adopts a gradually deepening bottom structure, and the bottom surface gradually becomes shallower from the inlet side to the outlet side; the brine evaporation tank (3) is divided by multiple flow guiding components (31) to form an S-shaped channel from the inlet to the outlet, and a heat-absorbing and waterproof membrane (33) is laid on the bottom and side slope of the brine evaporation tank (3); the water flow direction in the brine evaporation tank (3) is parallel to the layout direction of the reflector array (1) and perpendicular to the orientation of the reflectors.
4. A system for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on mirror reflection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Each set of reflective units includes a reflective panel (11) and a back support frame (12). The back support frame (12) is rotatably connected to the support column (21) through a rotating mechanism (22). The reflective panel (11) is made of a high-reflectivity anodized aluminum plate with a silicon dioxide protective layer on the surface, and its solar reflectivity is not less than 0.
85. The back support frame (12) is made of weather-resistant aluminum alloy profile.
5. A system for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on mirror reflection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The supporting column (21) is fixed to the ground by a concrete foundation. The motor positioning device (23) adopts a positioning shaft with a motor. An arc-shaped or semi-circular positioning frame (24) is provided on the back of the reflecting unit. Multiple adjustment holes (25) are equally spaced on the positioning frame (24). A corresponding positioning hole (26) is provided on the supporting column (21). The position of the adjustment hole (25) is set according to the theoretical noon tilt angle of the spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox and winter solstice. The motor rotates the shaft to drive the reflecting mirror to adjust to the preset angle. The angle is fixed by bolts or pins to match the adjustment hole (25) with the positioning hole (26). The adjustment range is 0° to 180°.
6. A system for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on mirror reflection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The mirror array (1) is arranged in a straight line along the longest side of the brine evaporation tank (3) and is parallel to the brine evaporation tank (3). The distance between the mirror array (1) and the brine evaporation tank (3) is 0.3 to 1 times the width of the brine tank. The ratio of the total effective reflective area of the mirror array (1) to the surface area of the brine evaporation tank (3) is 0.5:1 to 2:
1.
7. The system for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on mirror reflection according to claim 2, characterized in that: Multiple fixed piles (32) are provided at the bottom of the brine evaporation tank (3); the heating ball (4) is a floating structure, consisting of a top heat insulation buoyancy layer (41), a bottom heat storage layer (42) and an outer covering layer (43). The bottom heat storage layer (42) is filled with phase change material, and the phase change temperature is higher than the ambient temperature. Each heating ball (4) has a connecting ring at the bottom, which is connected to the fixed piles (32) at the bottom of the tank by an anchor rope (44). The length of the anchor rope (44) is 1 to 1.5 times the depth of the tank.
8. A method for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on specular reflection, characterized in that, The method uses the salt lake brine evaporation efficiency enhancement system based on mirror reflection as described in claim 2, and the specific steps are as follows: S1. Before the system is running, adjust the tilt angle of the reflector array to the corresponding preset position using the angle adjustment frame according to the local latitude and longitude and the current date; S2. On a clear day, the solar radiation system, with an array of reflectors arranged on one side of the brine pool, directs a large amount of solar radiation that cannot directly reach the pool surface to the entire surface of the brine pool. This allows the surface of the brine pool to simultaneously receive direct radiation and dense reflected radiation, forming a "composite enhanced radiation field" with a significantly higher energy density than the natural state. The temperature of the brine in the pool begins to rise rapidly, increasing evaporation efficiency. The heating balls floating in the pool efficiently absorb heat and collect it. S3. When there is no sunlight at night or on a cloudy day, the ambient temperature drops and the brine begins to cool. At this time, the heating ball releases heat to warm the surrounding brine, thereby extending the effective evaporation time.
9. The method of using the system for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on specular reflection according to claim 8, characterized in that: The heating sphere is composed of a top heat-insulating buoyancy layer, a bottom heat storage layer and an outer covering layer. The bottom heat storage layer is a phase change material and the outer covering layer is a black heat-absorbing material. The heating sphere is evenly distributed in the brine tank. In step S2, the heating spheres, which are evenly distributed in the pool during the day, efficiently absorb heat through their black outer skin. Due to the self-stability of the sphere structure, the bottom heat storage layer naturally faces downwards, and the heat is preferentially guided to the phase change material at the bottom. The heat insulation layer at the top of the sphere minimizes the loss of heat into the air. After absorbing heat, the phase change material melts into a liquid state, converting a large amount of solar radiation energy into latent heat of phase change for storage. The excess heat energy will be further transferred through contact with the brine. In step S3, when there is no sunlight at night or on a cloudy day, the temperature of the phase change material in the heat storage layer at the bottom of the heating ball drops below the freezing point, and it begins to solidify from a liquid state to a solid state, and stably releases the stored latent heat of phase change to the surrounding brine which is at a lower temperature.
10. The method of using the system for improving the evaporation efficiency of salt lake brine based on specular reflection according to claim 8, characterized in that: The bottom of the brine tank is gradually deepening to ensure the balance of heat absorption and evaporation in different areas of the brine. It is also equipped with a flow guide to form an S-shaped channel, which extends the flow path of the brine and forces the high-temperature surface water and the middle and lower layers of water to mix fully during the flow, so that the brine in the entire tank is heated evenly.