Installation of leakage barriers to enhance yield of mineral deposits in unlined solar pond systems
AssigneeGreat Salt Lake Minerals Corporation
InventorsMark Reynolds, Thomas S. Burton, Corey R. Milne, Steven R. Day
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Slurry walls and methods of using those slurry walls to seal unlined solar ponds are provided. The slurry walls are formed from a mixture comprising clay and cement in water. A trench is keyed into the dike surrounding the solar pond, down to a geotechnically predetermined level. The slurry is deposited into the trench and allowed to harden, after which it is covered with a membrane or other covering. The inventive slurry walls reduce, and preferably prevent, leakage of water from the solar pond.
Claims45
A method of reducing or preventing leakage from a solar pond, the method comprising forming a slurry wall in a dike adjacent said solar pond, said slurry wall being formed from a mixture comprising clay, cement, and water.
A modified solar pond comprising:
- a solar pond having a dike adjacent thereto;
- and
- a slurry wall in said dike, said slurry wall being formed from a mixture comprising clay, cement, and water.
A slurry wall formed from a hardened mixture, the mixture before hardening comprising:
- from about 3% to about 25% by weight cement, based upon the total weight of the mixture taken as 100% by weight;
- from about 1% to about 15% by weight clay, based upon the total weight of the mixture taken as 100% by weight;
- and
- water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.