Methods for dust control on saline dry lakebeds using minimal water resources
OwnerDavid P. Groeneveldinventor
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Abstract
A method for controlling dust on a saline lakebed is disclosed comprising the steps of commencing the flooding of a wetting basin, testing to determine if there is a sufficient level of salts which when flooded will produce a brackish solution, testing the temperature of the lakebed substrate and curtailing further flooding of the lakebed depending on the substrate temperature.
Claims5
A method for temporary relief of dust pollution at a dry lakebed having multiple wetting basins spread over a large geographic area and an adjacent evaporite deposit of precipitated salts, comprising:
- timing implementation of the method to the springtime;
- commencing water flooding of the dry lakebed wetting basins;
- testing the existing lakebed substrate to determine if there is a sufficient level of salts which when flooded with water will produce a brackish solution;
- if not, transport brine from the evaporite deposit to create a brackish solution in which the total dissolved solids is between 1,000 and 10,000 mg per liter;
- testing the substrate temperature to determine whether the existing or forecast temperature is sufficient for effecting evaporation of the brackish solution;
- and
- if the temperature of the substrate is sufficient, curtail further flooding of the lakebed.
A method for relief of dust pollution during the October-June dust season at the Owen Lake, Calif. saline dry lakebed having multiple wetting basins spread over a large geographic area and an adjacent evaporite deposit of precipitated salts including sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate and a sodium chloride-dominated brine, comprising:
- timing implementation of the method to the period April through June;
- commencing water flooding of the dry lakebed wetting basins;
- testing the lakebed substrate to determine if there is a sufficient level of precipitated salts, including sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate, which when flooded with water, will produce a brackish solution;
- if not, transport brine from the evaporite deposit to create a brackish solution;
- testing the substrate to determine whether sodium sulfate or sodium carbonate is the dominant salt;
- testing the substrate temperature after determining which salt is dominant;
- if the dominant salt is sodium carbonate and the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, curtail flooding of the lakebed basins;
- and
- if the dominant salt is sodium sulfate and the temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, curtail flooding of the lakebed basins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.