Sink works

A Sinkwerk, also called Laugwerk, is a leader in rock salt or rock salt mass be hewn cavity which is filled with fresh water. Due to the fresh water, the rock is leached with water and forms a brine. This brine is used for the production of sodium chloride.

Basics

The salt mine is one of the oldest methods for salt extraction from underground salt domes. The procedure is similar to the formation of natural brine springs. One uses here for salt extraction, the solubility of the salt in the water. Applied the method in most salt mines of the Alps, for example, in Berchtesgaden, Hallein, Altausee and Bad Ischl, but also in southern German salt mines in Haselgebirge. The Haselgebirge is a partially saline containing mountains, which is mixed with gypsum, clay and anhydrite. For this LABEL FOR with impurities salt storage, the salt is obtained by dissolving it by leaching with water supplied from the rock. Then the salt is excreted in the salt works from the brine.

Creating the Sinkwerks

First, in the deposit several superimposed studs or routes are being driven. This main line can be connected via tonnlägige shafts. Then a rectangular cross passage, starting as ascended, that the location of the trail for about 70 to 80 Lachter is away from the main line of the main track. From this cross-cut several 1-8 Lachter be long, intersecting loci as the ascended the base so similar to the Örterbau, is divided into pillars. The individual cross passages and loci are created with a height of 2 meters. Due to the different lengths of loci produced an approximately elliptical base. From an overlying sole is an obliquely incident track, which is called the miner Ankehrschurf or Ankehrschachtricht, ascended up into the cross passage. In the same manner several Sinkwerke be created on each sole. Between the individual Sinkwerken a security pillar stops.

Thereafter, the main line is closed at the ends of each cross passages each provided with a dam structure. This dam structure, which is also called weir is placed so that a biking the overlying Sinkwerke is still possible. Tubes with sealable valves are installed in the weir, over which later became the brine can be discharged. Subsequently, the fresh water is introduced into the cavity via the Ankehrschurf. The Sinkwerke always be created first on the upper floor, then on the bottom. Sinkwerke reach are created by this process over the years, a reduction of up to 30 meters.

In addition to the conventional method Sinkwerke be produced since the mid- 1970s, after the so-called Bohrspülverfahren. Starting from Ankehrschurf a 125 meter deep hole is created. A funnel-shaped cavity at the Bohrlochfuß is flushed with a height of 5-7 m and a diameter of 30 meters. This process takes up to 2 years. With this rinsing process the salt dissolves in the water, the insoluble minerals sink to the bottom and be drained. After the creation of this cavity required for the operation devices are installed, then they will just continue to operate as nicer Sinkwerke. Sinkwerke that are created after the Bohrspülverfahren, reach over the years a height of 100 meters. The production process is more economical than the conventional preparation method.

The weir

The weirs can be constructed in various ways, there is vertical or horizontal weirs, as well combinations of both species. Often, a military ( in Austria Wöhre ) of two dams will be created. The dams will be placed in the cross passage that leads to the salt mine that the rear dam is located directly at the transition between cross passage and Sinkwerk. The front dam, which is also known as wings or Kränzel, located at a distance of 2 Lachter from the rear dam. Of 2 Lachter long gap between the two dams called long furnace. The long furnace is protected with a waterproof lining to leaching. The long oven and the two dams are referred to collectively as a defense plant. Since leaking after a long period of use of the Sinkwerks the dams due to aging or may be loose, the cross passage in which the weir plant was installed ascended so long that a new weir can be created. Since the military has to withstand a certain pressure is taken in the preparation of the weir on maximum strength and maximum safety. In addition, the weir is designed so that after completion of the dam, the brine can drain freely.

Materials utilized

As materials for the Damme and the lining of the furnace, long wood and special clays are used. Depending on the design rectangular wood blocks are used with an edge length of 10-14 inches. To seal the incoming recovered in the excavation of clay or sandal will be used. The sandal is crushed and mixed in a container with saturated brine. This mixture is allowed to stand as long as until the Lette takes no more brine. Then from the slurry spheres formed are then dried in the sun. This process is necessary so that the lettering is more resistant to leaching. The incoming sound obtained is mixed with Auslaugrückständen from old Sinkwerken and also formed into balls and dried.

The individual structures

Depending on the location and the material used, the following thin weir dams

• Latvians dam weir ( Lettendammwöhre )
• Stock dam weir ( Stockdammwöhre )
• Püthendammwehr ( Püthendammwöhre )
• Püthenstockdammwehr ( Püthenstockdammwöhre )

When Latvians dam weir one about 8 inches deep slot is first created at the joints and in the area of ridges and sole. A wooden structure to 14 -inch square timber installed which has the shape of a door case all - in the slot of Figure 12. This construction is mounted in the middle by a clamping bolt. Behind this door first floor construction, a second door frame construction made of 10 - to 12 -inch square timbers created. In both construction timbers are used in the previously centrally a 7 -inch-wide fold was incorporated. The designs are so behind the other installed so that the door frame construction is with the slightly thinner squared timbers towards the salt mine. The Latvians framework thus created is stabilized with so-called Latvians leaves and wood nails. In the folding then 7 inch planks are inserted. The entire construction is finally sealed with Latvians. To this end, the Latvians be encountered with a so-called Letteisen. Latvians dams are suitable for salt rock as the Latvians to become impregnated with moisture and swell and thus the dam good seal, in plaster, they are less suitable.

The stock dam weir is constructed in a similar manner, but in this case two dams are created, each half as wide as the individual Latvians dam. The wooden structures are so firmly placed that they the woods are due to stress, are tight even without additional sealing enough by Lette. Any leaks are eliminated by wedging the woods.

Püthendammwehr the dams are disposed in a horizontal position. Advantage of these weirs is that they can not be cut around of fresh water. The long oven is mounted cowardly in these weirs. Also in this dam are 12 - to 14- inch square timbers used, which are assembled from federal timber and so-called source timber to a special wooden construction. To seal the joints are verbeizt, verschoppt and cemented from the outside.

The Püthenstockdammwehr is similarly constructed as the Püthendammwehr.

The water supply

The first water inlet is adjusted in conventionally prepared Sinkwerken that the water does not reach the first ridge of the Sinkwerks. This is necessary so that first the individual pillars are leached. If the pillars are exhausted, the Sinkwerk is filled up to the ridge with water. By leaching of the rock and the impurities such as sand, limestone, gypsum, and clay are removed. Since they do not dissolve in water, these impurities are gradually sinking to the bottom of Sinkwerks. The concentration of the brine increases gradually.

For the next steps we distinguish two methods: intermittent ( interrupted ) watering and continuous ( uninterrupted ) washing.

In the intermittent watering is refilled after the first complete filling of the Sinkwerkes no more water. Once the brine is saturated, it is discharged by prior clarification in so-called Abseihekästen. Now the sole of Sinkwerks is purified by Laist and the weir, if necessary, updated. He then completes the Sinkwerk with new fresh water. In the course of using the diameter of the Sinkwerkes of 30-40 meters extended so at 100 meters.

During continuous soaking in the rear part of the fresh water is introduced continuously Sinkwerkes and discharged at the same rate through the brine pipe. Care is taken to ensure that the brine always touches the ridges. In this mode, the hanging wall of the Sinkwerke covers an area of 10,000 m².

Operation

Sinkwerke can be used between five and ten years. How many times a Sinkwerk can be started with intermittent watering depends on the salt content of the deposit and the size of the Sinkwerks. Smaller Sinkwerke be started more than once per year, larger Sinkwerke are often up to a year, sometimes longer. Important for optimal use is the regulated water, so not too much pillars remain standing that are not leached. Each Sinkwerk must be designed so that it communicates with the main routes. In order for the mountains does not collapse, no Sinkwerke may be applied over each other. With an optimum design the Sinkwerk grows daily at 1 centimeter upwards.