Distinctive Features of Organization of Dispersing Discharge Outlets for Excessive Brines Disposal to Water Bodies

Potassium ore concentration schemes are connected with formation of excessive brines with subsequent problems with their utilization. The paper deals with distinctive features of the controlled discharge organization for the conditions of the Kama Reservoir (the Kama River) in the vicinity of the Solikamsk-Berezniki industrial agglomeration. As a result of investigations the trends of the Kama River water content alterations in the Solikamsk-Berezniki industrial agglomeration area have been found and calculation of the Kama River potential assimilating capacity as a possible waste water recipient has been carried out. The main principles of the dispersing discharge organization as well as various designing options of the high-mineralized waste (excess brines produced in potassium raw material concentration process) disposal have been discussed. Adjustment of the principal designing solutions has been performed on the basis of 3D computing experiments. Hydrodynamic simulation has been done in the two-dimension version in order to analyze possible pollution zones created by waste water discharge. Advantages and disadvantages of each option have been compared. We concluded that the structures involving surface discharge of high-mineralized waste water were the most effective but difficult to implement in the conditions of the water reservoir section under consideration. The scheme with close-to-bottom location of the outlet in combination with selective intake of brines from a sludge dump was considered the most easily implemented and effective enough. Irrespective of the chosen scheme of high-mineralized waste water disposal they should be discharged with a strict coordination with the water recipient hydrological regime. This will enable to use the water body assimilating capacity thoroughly and to reduce the environmental load.