Abstract: The invention relates to an open dissolving chamber for rock salt and to an apparatus for the production, free from vapors, of concentrated, aqueous sodium chloride crude brine by continuously dissolving rock salt in this dissolving chamber. The dissolving chamber contains a heap of rock salt with which the brine which is unsaturated in respect of salt comes into contact. The brine thereby becomes saturated with sodium chloride and then passes out of the dissolving chamber. In the present apparatus, the unsaturated brine enters at the base of the dissolving chamber. The saturated crude brine is removed from the rock salt through at least one vertical or inclined screen which largely holds back suspended rock salt particles. The liquid level of the saturated crude brine in the dissolving chamber should not reach the surface of the heap of rock salt, and the side of the screen facing the interior of the dissolving chamber should be completely covered with a mixture of saturated crude brine and rock salt.

Abstract: The invention relates to an open dissolving chamber for rock salt and to a process for the production, free from vapors, of concentrated, aqueous sodium chloride crude brine by continuously dissolving rock salt in this dissolving chamber. The dissolving chamber contains a heap of rock salt with which the brine which is unsaturated in respect of salt comes into contact. The brine thereby becomes saturated with sodium chloride and then passes out of the dissolving chamber. In the present process, the unsaturated brine enters at the base of the dissolving chamber. The saturated crude brine is removed from the rock salt through at least one vertical or inclined screen which largely holds back suspended rock salt particles. The liquid level of the saturated crude brine in the dissolving chamber should not reach the surface of the heap of rock salt, and the side of the screen facing the interior of the dissolving chamber should be completely covered with a mixture of saturated crude brine and rock salt.