Underground Brine Distribution Header for Uniform Salt Saturation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underground brine making systems face challenges in ensuring complete brine saturation due to uneven salt distribution across the tank floor, leading to non-saturated water entering the outlet collection plenum.
Innovation Solution
A salt distribution system with a pressurized main vertical delivery pipe using a Y-connector to branch salt horizontally along conduits, combined with a companion water distribution system to promote mixing and saturation, ensuring even salt distribution across the tank floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If salt is deposited in an underground brine tank, then brine generation occurs, but salt distributes unevenly and collects below the deposit point rather than spreading evenly
Solution Approach 1:
The salt distribution system is segmented into multiple components: a central deposit point, radial distribution conduits, and multiple discharge points arranged along the tank bottom. This segmentation divides the salt delivery function across multiple locations, ensuring even distribution and preventing salt accumulation at a single point while maintaining complete brine saturation throughout the tank.
2Device complexity
If a simple salt deposit system is used, then device complexity is reduced, but salt and water mixing is insufficient leading to non-saturated brine
Solution Approach 1:
The salt distribution system is merged with the water distribution system by positioning water discharge points adjacent to salt discharge points. This combination ensures that salt and water mix thoroughly at the source, guaranteeing complete brine saturation without requiring complex separate mixing mechanisms, thus maintaining reliability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The header system acts as an intermediary structure that receives salt at a central point and distributes it through radial conduits to multiple discharge points. This intermediary mechanism transforms the concentrated salt deposit into an evenly distributed salt supply, ensuring reliable brine saturation throughout the tank while maintaining a relatively simple overall system design.
3Device complexity
If salt is delivered through a single vertical pipe, then device complexity is minimized, but salt distribution across the tank floor becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The salt distribution system transitions from a single vertical dimension (one vertical pipe) to a two-dimensional radial network (conduits extending in multiple directions from the vertical pipe). This dimensional expansion allows salt to be distributed across the entire tank floor area, ensuring uniform composition throughout the brine solution while adding only moderate system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures thorough and even distribution of salt and water, guaranteeing full brine saturation and effective brine generation throughout the tank, preventing non-saturated water from entering the outlet.
Implementation Method 1
a companion water distribution system and delivers water to the salt header locations... promotes mixing and saturation of the salt and water solution to generate brine
Implementation Method 2
a pressurized main vertical delivery pipe that uses a Y-connector to branch the salt feed horizontally along two distribution conduits
Data Source
AI summary
A brine generating system is disclosed for use with an underground storage tank, the system including a main salt delivery channel that branches into two horizontal feed lines through a reducer to deliver salt under pressure to the bottom of the storage tank in a generally equal distribution along the tank floor. The salt distribution system can be combined with a water distribution system to ensure delivery of water at the location of the salt deposits along the tank floor.