Verdampingstallen

Verdampingstallen is a Dutch-language term used to describe engineered structures—typically ponds, basins or tanks—designed to increase the rate of liquid evaporation for the purpose of concentrating solutes or reducing liquid volume. The name combines verdamping (evaporation) and tallen (a plural form suggesting enclosures or compartments) and is most often applied in contexts where passive solar and atmospheric conditions are harnessed to drive evaporation.

Design and operation emphasize large surface area, shallow depth, and exposure to sunlight and wind to maximize evaporative flux. Materials may range from natural earthen basins to lined concrete or plastic tanks, depending on the chemical nature of the liquid and containment needs. Controls such as baffles, covers, and staged basins can improve efficiency or manage odors and emissions.

Applications include salt production from brines, concentration of industrial or agricultural effluents, management of produced water in oil and gas operations, and emergency volume reduction following spills. The approach is valued for low energy requirements relative to mechanical evaporation, but efficiency depends strongly on climate and weather.

Environmental and regulatory considerations include the potential for salt or contaminant accumulation, impacts on local groundwater and soil, volatilization of hazardous compounds, and habitat changes. Modern practice often pairs evaporation systems with pretreatment, monitoring, and alternatives such as mechanical evaporators or zero-liquid-discharge systems where land use or pollutant risk is constrained.