The present invention is a brine-maker of a two-tank arrangement specifically designed for efficient removal of salt sludge. The first tank is a salt-hopper into which water flows from the bottom and up through salt to form brine and leaves mineral impurities called sludge on the bottom of the hopper. The brine then overflows through strainers into a brine containment tank. The outside of the salt hopper has bracketing means attached. When the sludge needs to be removed, a lifting device is attached to the bracketing means and the hopper is disconnected from the water supply by a quick-fit coupler and removed to a dumping site where it is turned on its side and the sludge is poured out. The salt hopper is then returned to its position and coupled to the water supply. The salinity level of the brine in the containment tank can be adjusted either by adding fresh water or by running the brine back through the salt in the salt hopper. The brine is stored in the brine containment tank until discharged for use.

The invention concerns a method of preparing brine by dissolving salt in water, the salt containing sodium chloride but also calcium sulfate and/or other soluble impurities with a slower dissolution rate than sodium chloride, wherein the salt is supplied to a vessel including a grid for supporting a salt bed, water is supplied and flows through and wets at least a portion of the salt bed before it flows through the grid, whereby small solid particles form and pass through the grid whereafter they are separated from the solution, said small particles containing essentially no sodium chloride. The invention further concerns a device for making brine by dissolving salt in water, which device comprises a vessel containing a grid support, means for supplying solid salt, means for supplying water, means for the outflow of brine, and means for removing undissolved salt particles at the bottom of the vessel.

A mixing apparatus 1 comprising a chamber 12 with at least one inlet 16 allowing entry of a solute and a liquid solvent, at least one outlet 52 allowing exit of a solution of said solute and solution, and at least a separator 22 having at least one generally upwardly facing surface 40 and one generally downwardly facing surface 38a, wherein said surfaces define a passageway 50 allowing the solution of the solute and the solvent to pass through and out of the chamber 12, and wherein undissolved solute is descendable along the generally upwardly facing surface 40a.