Trona Solution Mining Clogging Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current trona solution mining methods face clogging issues due to supersaturation and precipitation of sodium bicarbonate and wegscheiderite, leading to reduced productivity and economic inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

The method involves injecting an aqueous solvent into an underground trona cavity at the wegscheiderite, trona, and nahcolite (WTN) triple point, managing clogging by controlling alkaline values through conversion and crystallization, and treating the barren liquor with sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate to reduce sodium bicarbonate supersaturation, thereby maintaining optimal solubility and preventing clogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional trona solution mining methods are used, then trona dissolution occurs, but clogging of the dissolving face by sodium bicarbonate precipitation reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrona dissolution rateVSAvoidclogging by sodium bicarbonate precipitation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the solvent by adding sodium hydroxide to convert sodium bicarbonate to sodium carbonate, and adjusts temperature parameters to control solubility and prevent precipitation on the dissolving face

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Sodium hydroxide is introduced as an intermediary substance that reacts with precipitated sodium bicarbonate to form soluble sodium carbonate, preventing clogging and maintaining solvent penetration to the dissolving face

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If sodium hydroxide is added to prevent clogging, then solubility suppression is reduced, but additional chemical treatment and cost are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolvent penetration to dissolving faceVSAvoidchemical treatment process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sodium hydroxide treatment system is designed to automatically maintain optimal pH and prevent precipitation, with the chemistry self-regulating to convert bicarbonate to carbonate as needed without requiring complex external control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of substance

If trona is mined by conventional underground methods, then ore can be extracted, but environmental impact and processing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrona recoveryVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical mining and surface processing operations with in-situ chemical dissolution and underground solution mining, eliminating the need for ore hoisting, crushing, and calcining while reducing environmental disturbance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The valuable trona is extracted in dissolved form directly from the underground deposit through solvent circulation, separating the mineral extraction from the ground structure and eliminating the need for physical ore removal and surface processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This approach minimizes clogging potential, enhances trona dissolution rates, and achieves highly concentrated solutions rich in soda ash and depleted in sodium bicarbonate, improving resource recovery and reducing environmental impacts.

Implementation Method 1

dissolve trona in the cavity aqueous solution at a trona dissolution surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

converting dissolved sodium bicarbonate to dissolved sodium carbonate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

crystallization and production of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and/or sodium sesquicarbonate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Implementation Method 4

Heat recovered from the step of recovering alkaline values is used to increase the temperature of the barren liquor and aqueous solvent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11746639B2Trona solution mining methods and compositions

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 SESQUI MINING

AI summary

The invention discloses a method of solution mining trona by injecting an aqueous solvent into an underground cavity comprising trona to dissolve trona in the aqueous solution and removing the aqueous solution from the cavity at about the WTN triple point (the temperature at which solid phase wegscheiderite, trona, and nahcolite can co-exist in an aqueous solution). Alkaline values from the removed aqueous solution are recovered to produce a barren liquor. The method further includes either (i) treating the barren liquor to produce an aqueous solvent or (ii) treating injected aqueous solvent to reduce clogging at the trona dissolution surface caused by supersaturation of sodium bicarbonate, and precipitation of nahcolite and wegscheiderite as the aqueous solution in the cavity approaches saturation of both dissolved sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate.