APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SALT

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing salt, and more particularly to an apparatus for manufacturing salt, which is capable of obtaining mineral salt containing a high concentration of minerals, manufacturing salt at relatively low cost in a relatively small space, and exhibiting maximum efficiency of drying or evaporation since seawater is heated and sprayed onto a cloth or net.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing salt, and more particularly to an apparatus for manufacturing salt, which is capable of obtaining mineral salt containing a high concentration of minerals, manufacturing salt at relatively low cost in a relatively small space, and exhibiting maximum efficiency of drying or evaporation since seawater is heated and sprayed onto a cloth or net.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, the most popular method for manufacturing salt is a method in which salt is extracted by putting seawater in a salt pan and then drying the seawater.

Salt manufactured by the above method contains approximately 60 different kinds of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, and the minerals are widely used as nutrients that are beneficial to humans.

However, the method has problems in that it is difficult to secure salt pans due to the development of shorelines, and in that it takes a lot of manpower to produce salt in a salt pan. Due to these problems, the production of natural salt is currently decreasing every year, and thus an apparatus and method for artificially manufacturing salt, which has about the same components as natural salt, is being developed in order to substitute for natural salt. As a representative example, there is “Japanese Patent Publication No. S63-27290” which discloses a method of bringing seawater into a factory and manufacturing salt in an electrical manner using an ion exchange resin film.

However, the salt manufactured by the above method has very low content of nutrients that are beneficial to humans, as well as very low content of minerals such as calcium and magnesium which are necessary to humans, compared to natural salt. For this reason, the above salt is not as suitable for use as food, compared to natural salt.

Meanwhile, Korean Patent No. 10-1080994 discloses an apparatus for manufacturing salt. The apparatus includes a drying section, which includes a first drying portion having a first drying space therein and a second drying portion installed in the first drying space and having a second drying space connected to the first drying space therein, a raw material supply section which is connected to one side of the drying section for spraying of a salt concentrate in a fine particle form, and a heating section which is connected to one side of the drying section to heat the drying spaces.

However, the above patent pertains to a manner in which seawater is mixed with air within an injection nozzle and salt is crushed into fine particles. For this reason, when the nozzle is used for a long time, it is blocked due to a bent portion of a venture pipe, and thus it is difficult to continuously operate the apparatus. In addition, the apparatus is problematic in that the efficiency with which seawater or salt is atomized is low.

Meanwhile, modern people suffer from nutrient deficiencies due to a lack of minerals. The lack of calcium and magnesium causes chronic diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular and circulatory disorders. The treatment of diseases merely by supplementing calcium and magnesium has been proven, as reported in a number of papers.

However, an apparatus for manufacturing mineral salt having a high content of minerals using seawater has been not developed until now.

In addition, conventional apparatuses for manufacturing salt are inefficient because they have a complicated structure or take up a large amount of space, and it is very time consuming to manufacture salt.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manufacturing salt, capable of obtaining mineral salt containing a high concentration of minerals, and manufacturing salt at relatively low cost in a relatively small space.

In addition, it is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manufacturing salt, capable of exhibiting maximum efficiency of drying or evaporation since seawater is heated and sprayed onto a cloth or net.

In addition, it is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manufacturing salt, capable of accelerating evaporation of seawater by supplying heated air into a salt manufacturing chamber, and atomizing and spraying seawater from a nozzle.

In addition, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manufacturing salt, capable of further including a seawater concentration unit and supplying previously concentrated seawater into a salt manufacturing chamber, so as to continuously and efficiently manufacture salt.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an apparatus for manufacturing salt that crystallizes salt in a manner of spraying seawater onto a cloth or net. The apparatus includes a salt manufacturing chamber having an internal space, a cloth or net vertically installed in the salt manufacturing chamber, a seawater jet device installed at an upper portion of the salt manufacturing chamber to atomize and spray seawater onto the cloth or net, a seawater supply pipe for supplying the seawater to the seawater jet device, and a heating means for heating the seawater or the salt manufacturing chamber, wherein the salt is crystallized while the seawater sprayed from the seawater jet device flows down along the cloth or net.

The seawater jet device may be a nozzle, having a horn or truncated pyramid shape, into which seawater and air are introduced. The seawater supplied through the seawater supply pipe may be primarily atomized by intersecting with the air in the nozzle, and the seawater, which is primarily atomized and discharged, may be secondarily atomized in a vertex region of the nozzle.

The seawater jet device may spray seawater in an atomized form using an ultrasonic vibrator.

The seawater supply pipe may be arranged at a lower portion of the salt manufacturing chamber to be connected to the seawater jet device, and the heating means may be a boiler installed at a bottom of the salt manufacturing chamber to heat the seawater in the seawater supply pipe.

The heating means may be a hot air device installed at a lower portion of the salt manufacturing chamber to supply heated air into the salt manufacturing chamber.

The apparatus may further include a seawater concentration unit. The seawater concentration unit may include a concentration chamber having an internal space, a cloth or net vertically installed in the concentration chamber, a seawater jet device installed at an upper portion of the concentration chamber to atomize and spray seawater onto the cloth or net, a seawater supply pipe for supplying the seawater to the seawater jet device, and a heating means for heating the seawater or the concentration chamber, and may concentrate the seawater. The concentrated seawater may be supplied to the seawater jet device of the salt manufacturing chamber through the seawater supply pipe of the salt manufacturing chamber.

The salt manufacturing chamber may be formed with a steam outlet port for discharging steam therein.

Advantageous Effects

The apparatus for manufacturing salt having the above-mentioned configurations according to the present invention can be used to obtain mineral salt containing a higher concentration of minerals compared to that obtained from typical seawater or deep ocean water, and to manufacture salt at relatively low cost in a relatively small space.

In addition, the apparatus for manufacturing salt according to the present invention can exhibit maximum efficiency of drying or evaporation since seawater is heated and sprayed onto a cloth or net.

Moreover, the apparatus for manufacturing salt according to the present invention can accelerate the evaporation of seawater by supplying heated air into a salt manufacturing chamber, and atomizing and spraying seawater from a nozzle.

Furthermore, the apparatus for manufacturing salt according to the present invention can further include a seawater concentration unit and supply previously concentrated seawater into the salt manufacturing chamber, so as to continuously and efficiently manufacture salt.

BEST MODE

In addition, the detailed descriptions of functions and constructions well known in the art may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 1is a conceptual view illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing salt according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, the apparatus for manufacturing salt according to the embodiment of the present invention may generally include a salt manufacturing chamber100, cloths or nets110, a seawater jet device500, a seawater supply pipe120, and a heating means.

Specifically, the apparatus for manufacturing salt according to the embodiment of the present invention crystallizes and manufactures salt in a manner whereby seawater is sprayed onto the cloths or nets110. The apparatus may include the salt manufacturing chamber100having an internal space, the cloths or nets110which are vertically installed in the salt manufacturing chamber100, the seawater jet device500which is installed at the upper portion of the salt manufacturing chamber100to atomize and spray seawater onto the cloths or nets110, the seawater supply pipe120for supplying the seawater to the seawater jet device500, and the heating means for heating the seawater or the salt manufacturing chamber.

The salt manufacturing chamber100serves to provide a space in which salt may be manufactured using seawater introduced from the outside. The cloths or nets110, the seawater jet device500, the seawater supply pipe120, the heating means, and the like are installed in the salt manufacturing chamber100. The bottom of the salt manufacturing chamber100, specifically the upper portion of a boiler210may be provided with a tray105for accommodating salt or concentrated seawater. An outlet port106may be formed through one side of the tray and one side of the salt manufacturing chamber.

The cloths or nets110serve to widely distribute the atomized and sprayed seawater and increase drying or concentration efficiency. The cloths or nets110are preferably installed to extend vertically such that the seawater, which is directly sprayed onto the cloths or nets110, may be dried or evaporated while flowing down along the cloths or nets110. Salt crystallized on the cloths or nets may be collected by shaking the cloths or nets.

The seawater jet device500serves to atomize and spray seawater onto the cloths or nets, and may include a pipe510, and nozzles530connected to the pipe510. Here, the nozzles530may be installed so as to correspond to the number of cloths or nets110.

Specifically, each nozzle530of the seawater jet device500may be exemplified as being installed between the associated adjacent cloths or nets which are installed at a predetermined interval. The appropriate number of nozzles may be installed in consideration of the distance and width between the cloths or nets, etc.

The seawater jet device500accelerates the drying or evaporation of seawater by atomizing and spraying the seawater. The seawater jet device500may also spray seawater in a mist form as in a spray manner, spray seawater and air which are mixed with each other, or spray seawater in an atomized form using an ultrasonic vibrator.

The seawater supply pipe120serves to supply seawater, which is stored in a seawater reservoir10, to the seawater jet device500. One side of the seawater supply pipe120is connected to the seawater reservoir10, and the other side thereof is connected to the pipe510of the seawater jet device500.

The heating means serves to accelerate the evaporation of seawater, and may include a boiler210, an air heating device230, a hot air device250, and a heated air supply pipe270.

The boiler210heats seawater in the seawater supply pipe so that the heated seawater evaporates more quickly when it is sprayed from the nozzles530.

Seawater is heated by the boiler210to a temperature which is equal to or greater than at least 40° C., and preferably to a temperature of 80 to 90° C. Heating the seawater to a temperature of 80 to 90° C. may increase drying efficiency while retaining as much of minerals and nutrients contained in the seawater as possible.

The boiler210is preferably installed at the lower portion of the salt manufacturing chamber100. Through such installation, the boiler210heats the seawater supply pipe120and simultaneously heats the interior of the salt manufacturing chamber100, thereby increasing thermal efficiency.

Meanwhile, the seawater supply pipe120may consist of a heating part121which is a region heated on the boiler210, and a connection part125which is connected to the pipe510located at the upper portion of the salt manufacturing chamber100.

FIG. 2is a top view illustrating the seawater supply pipe installed at the lower portion of the salt manufacturing chamber according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 2, the heating part121may be exemplified as having a sinuate structure in which linear portions122, which are linearly arranged, and bent portions123, which are bent from the respective linear portions122, are repeatedly formed.

The air heating device230serves to heat air and supply the heated air to the hot air device250and the heated air supply pipe270.

The hot air device250serves to supply heated air into the salt manufacturing chamber100so as to accelerate the evaporation of seawater sprayed onto the cloths or nets110.

The hot air device250is installed at the lower portion of the salt manufacturing chamber100, and is preferably oriented upward such that the heated air is blown upward.

Meanwhile, the heated air supply pipe270is equipped with a pump P, and serves to supply heated air to the pipe510. Since heated air and seawater are sprayed from the nozzles530in the state in which they are mixed, evaporation efficiency can be further increased.

The seawater evaporated by the boiler210and the hot air device250is discharged through a steam outlet port101which is formed through the upper side of the salt manufacturing chamber100. The steam outlet101may be provided with a ventilator, etc. such that steam is forcibly discharged, and the discharged steam may be stored in a steam collection container13via a cooling device11.

FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view illustrating one nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which seawater and air are discharged through the nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

One end portion of each nozzle530according to the embodiment of the present invention is connected to the pipe, and the other end portion thereof is formed with a collision part535which collides with seawater. The nozzle530is formed with a seawater discharge part531and an air discharge part533which are respectively connected to first and second passages511and512.

The seawater is introduced into the first passage, and the heated air in the heated air supply pipe is introduced into the second passage. Although not illustrated, the pipe is divided into a seawater supply pipe and an air supply pipe, and the seawater supply pipe and the air supply pipe are respectively connected to the first and second passages.

The seawater discharged through the seawater discharge part531is primarily atomized by the air discharged from the air discharge part533. The pressure of the air discharged through the air discharge part533is greater than the injection pressure of the seawater discharged through the seawater discharge part531, whereby the seawater is smoothly atomized.

It is preferable that the collision part535be formed at a vertex region of the nozzle having a horn shape (e.g. a conic shape), and that the air discharge part533be formed at the same angle as the side surface of the collision part535. The seawater discharge part531is vertically formed, and the seawater, which is primarily atomized, is secondarily atomized in the region of the collision part535.

FIG. 5is a conceptual view illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing salt according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 5, the apparatus for manufacturing salt according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a seawater concentration unit C, in addition to the above configurations described in the previous embodiment.

The seawater concentration unit C serves to concentrate and supply seawater to the salt manufacturing chamber100. The seawater concentration unit C may include a concentration chamber100ahaving an internal space, cloths or nets110awhich are vertically installed in the concentration chamber100a,a seawater jet device500awhich is installed at the upper portion of the concentration chamber100ato atomize and spray seawater onto the cloths or nets110a,a seawater supply pipe120afor supplying the seawater to the seawater jet device500a,and a heating means for heating the seawater or the concentration chamber100a.

Since the cloths or nets110a,the seawater jet device500a,the heating means, etc. are identical or similar to the cloths or nets110, the seawater jet device500, the heating means, etc., which are previously described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Unlike the above-mentioned salt manufacturing chamber, in which salt is extracted, seawater is first concentrated to have a predetermined salinity in the concentration chamber100a,and the concentrated seawater is then supplied from the concentration chamber100ato the salt manufacturing chamber100.

Accordingly, the seawater in the seawater reservoir10is supplied to the concentration chamber100avia the seawater supply pipe120a.

The seawater in the seawater supply pipe120ais supplied to the seawater jet device500ain the state in which the seawater is heated by the heating means, specifically a boiler210a.Air heated by a hot air device250a,as another heating means, is supplied into the concentration chamber100a.

The seawater supplied to the seawater jet device500ais atomized and sprayed onto the cloths or nets110a.

The seawater sprayed onto the cloths or nets110ais evaporated while flowing down toward a tray105alocated at the bottom of the concentration chamber100a,and the concentrated seawater is stored in the tray105a.

The concentrated seawater in the concentration chamber100ais supplied to the seawater jet device500of the salt manufacturing chamber100through the seawater supply pipe120a.

Meanwhile, the seawater in the seawater reservoir10has a concentration of about 3.5% (35%). The seawater is concentrated to have a concentration of 20 to 30% while passing through the seawater concentration unit C, and is supplied to the salt manufacturing chamber100.

The seawater, which is concentrated to have the concentration of 20 to 30% by means of the seawater concentration unit C, is supplied to the salt manufacturing chamber, and then undergoes a drying or evaporation process, thereby enabling salt to be extracted.

The apparatus for manufacturing salt according to the present invention further includes the seawater concentration unit, and thus can have an advantage of continuously performing a salt manufacturing process and shortening a salt manufacturing time.

Various embodiments have been described in the best mode for carrying out the invention. Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and applications may be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the intrinsic aspects of the embodiments. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in concrete constituent elements of the embodiments. In addition, it is to be understood that differences relevant to the variations and modifications fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure defined in the appended claims.