Innovation serves as the primary driver of industry advancement and the core engine propelling Shandong's salt industry beyond tradition toward high-quality development. The unveiling of the 2024 Shandong Salt Industry Science and Technology Awards showcases impressive achievements through innovation across the province's salt sector. A series of outstanding accomplishments—focused on technological breakthroughs, market demands, and green development—have emerged like blades piercing through cocoons, shattering outdated industrial paradigms and injecting powerful momentum for industrial transformation and upgrading.

To help the public understand how innovation empowers end-to-end upgrades in the salt industry and experience the deep integration of technology with industrial progress, the Shandong Salt Industry Association presents this special feature. May these pioneering innovations serve as beacons, guiding more salt enterprises to ride the waves of technological transformation with innovation as their oar!

◇ Project Name: Production of Potassium Chloride Food Additives via MVR Evaporation-Crystallization
◇ Award: First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress
◇ Implementing Entity: Shandong Laiyangzi Salt Farm Co., Ltd.

This project entailed the research and development of production techniques for food-grade potassium chloride additives on the company's existing production line—a 150,000-ton annual vacuum salt system with five-unit parallel MVR evaporators. Key innovations include:

• Developing a dual-output method to produce refined salt while simultaneously manufacturing potassium chloride

• Optimizing balanced process parameters

• Creating technical solutions to enhance purity of food-grade potassium chloride

• Refining particle size to meet standards for salt production

Leveraging our patented method "Process for Producing Food-Grade Potassium Chloride Additives via MVR Evaporation-Crystallization," this innovation achieves significant advancements:

Core Technological Breakthroughs:

1. Energy Optimization

   • Recompressed secondary steam elevates temperature via vapor compressor

   • Utilizes enthalpy content of low-pressure (low-temperature) steam in heating chambers

   • 35% reduction in energy consumption per ton vs. direct steam heating

2. Raw Material Purification

   • Implements combined DAF (Dissolved Air Flotation) + membrane filtration for brine treatment

   • Effectively removes organics/suspended solids from potassium feedstock

   • Membrane filtration eliminates macromolecular contaminants

   • Fully automated continuous process eliminates human intervention

3. Crystallization Enhancement

   • Modified evaporator extends crystal growth period

   • Optimized circulation flow controls particle size distribution

   • Ensures premium product quality

Intellectual Property:
• 1 invention patent • 1 utility model patent

After expert evaluation, the project is recognized for its advanced and mature application of MVR evaporation-crystallization technology, delivering significant energy savings. The integrated DAF + membrane filtration brine treatment process ensures stable quality of potassium feedstock, meeting requirements for food-grade potassium chloride production. Particle size optimization technology enables adjustable matching based on product specifications. The project demonstrates industry-leading technical proficiency with notable economic and social benefits.

Implementation Outcomes (July 2024):

• Integrated Production: Simultaneous salt and potassium production on a single MVR line

• Operational Excellence:
  • Enhanced flexibility
  • Product quality exceeding GB 25585-2010 standards

• Economic Impact (1-month operation):
  » Output: 450 tons of food-grade potassium chloride
  » New revenue: CNY 1.88 million
  » Profit: CNY 405,000