The theory of recovering salt from sea‐water by solar evaporation

Abstract

Abstract A theory is developed for the production of salt by the evaporation of sea‐water. The theory leads to simultaneous differential equations, solutions of which were evaluated on a differential analyser, for both steady‐state and transient conditions. The steady‐state solutions provide data which can be used in the design of a saltfield, particularly in the determination of the ‘concentrating’ area required to provide an adequate supply of concentrated brine to feed the ‘crystallizing’ area from which the salt is ultimately recovered. The transient solutions show the behaviour of the saltfield after flooding with fresh brine, and also after a sudden change is made in the rate of flow through the system. The latter studies are of interest from the operating, rather than design, point of view.