Method and system for rapidly preparing lithium carbonate or concentrated brine using high-temperature steam

Abstract

A method and system for rapidly preparing lithium carbonate or concentrated brine using high-temperature steam. The method comprises the steps of: feeding brine into a reactor, heating the brine with high-temperature steam above 200° C. while simultaneously discharging steam produced in the reactor, cooling and condensing the discharged steam in a condenser and collecting the condensate, and stopping the high-temperature steam after the brine is concentrated to a predetermined concentration or after a sufficient amount of lithium carbonate is collected. The system comprises: a reactor provided with a brine inlet, a steam outlet connected to a condenser, a product outlet, and a plurality of steam pipes. The method concerns the direct heating of brine using high-temperature steam, which is effective and efficient, and also produces fresh water. The heating is uniform and rapid, and does not require jackets, heat exchange tubes, mixers and vacuum pumps, vastly simplifying the system.