Solar pond as a low grade energy source for water desalination and power generation: a short review

Water and energy are thoroughly linked: water is required to generate, transfer, and use the lot characteristics of energy; and energy is demanded to extract, treat, and distribute water. Shortage in clean water deems as the main challenge facing the world as a result of the escalating in the energy consumption required for desalinating the sea/brackish water which increases costs and provokes on the marine life and environment due to the high concentrate solute produced from desalination plants. Solar pond is a reservoir of water with different salt concentration implements to gather and store the incident solar energy which it can be employed later on in different thermal energy applications, such as industrialized heating process, electricity power generation, farming crop drying and cooling of houses. In this paper a short but concentrated review of the literatures that dealt with the implemented of the solar pond to illustrate succinctly the historical background for the solar ponds as well as the most word-wide established solar ponds. In addition to the theoretical background of heat and mass transfer which governed the solar pond operation is presented and discussed.

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Small Scale Power Generation using Low Grade Heat from Solar Pond

Procedia Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.proeng.2012.10.111 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 49 ◽

pp. 50-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Baljit Singh ◽

J. Gomes ◽

Lippong Tan ◽

Abhijit Date ◽

A. Akbarzadeh

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Small Scale ◽

Low Grade ◽

Solar Pond ◽

Low Grade Heat

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Experimental Investigation of Power Generation from Salinity Gradient Solar Pond Using Thermoelectric Generators for Renewable Energy Application

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.393.809 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 393 ◽

pp. 809-814 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Baljit Singh ◽

Jaisatia Varthani ◽

Muhammed Fairuz Remeli ◽

Lippong Tan ◽

Abhijit Date ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Temperature Difference ◽

Cold Water ◽

Salinity Gradient ◽

Convective Zone ◽

Electricity Production ◽

Low Grade ◽

Thermoelectric Generators ◽

Solar Pond ◽

Low Grade Heat

Low grade heat (<100°C) is currently converted into electricity by organic rankine cycle (ORC) engines. ORC engines require certain threshold to operate as the organic fluid generally boils at more than 50°C, and fails to operate at lower temperature. Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) can operate at very low temperature differences and can be good candidate to replace ORC for power generation at low temperatures. In this paper, the potential of power generation from TEG and salinity-gradient solar pond (SGSP) was investigated. SGSP is capable of storing heat at temperature up to 80°C. The temperature difference between the upper convective zone (UCZ) and lower convective zone (LCZ) of a SGSP can be in the range of 40°C 60°C. This temperature difference can be used to power thermoelectric generators (TEG) for electricity production. This paper present result of a TEG system designed to be powered by the hot and cold water from the SGSP. The system is capable of producing electricity even on cloudy days or at night as the SGSP acts as a thermal storage system. The results obtained have indicated significant prospects of such system to generate power from a low grade heat for remote area power supply.

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Combined Water Desalination and Power Generation Using a Salinity Gradient Solar Pond as a Renewable Energy Source

Proceedings of ISES World Congress 2007 (Vol. I – Vol. V) ◽

10.1007/978-3-540-75997-3_442 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 2184-2188 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yuchun Zhao ◽

Aliakbar Akbarzadeh ◽

John Andrews

Keyword(s):

Energy Source ◽

Power Generation ◽

Renewable Energy Source ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Salinity Gradient ◽

Water Desalination ◽

Solar Pond

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Experimental Analysis of Thermoelectric Heat Exchanger for Power Generation from Salinity Gradient Solar Pond Using Low-Grade Heat

Journal of Electronic Materials ◽

10.1007/s11664-016-5009-0 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 46 (5) ◽

pp. 2854-2859 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Baljit Singh ◽

Nuraida ‘Aadilia Baharin ◽

Muhammad Fairuz Remeli ◽

Amandeep Oberoi ◽

Abhijit Date ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Heat Exchanger ◽

Experimental Analysis ◽

Salinity Gradient ◽

Low Grade ◽

Solar Pond ◽

Low Grade Heat ◽

Thermoelectric Heat

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Review on Solar Ponds in Libya

Solar Energy and Sustainable Development ◽

10.51646/jsesd.v7i3.79 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Abdulghani M Ramadan ◽

Khairy R Agha

Keyword(s):

Solar Energy ◽

Storage System ◽

Research Work ◽

Renewable Energies ◽

Low Grade ◽

Solar Ponds ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Solar Pond ◽

Economic Method ◽

And Storage

Solar and renewable energies applications got a great interest and attention in the last few decades. Problems related to CO2 emissions, air pollution, Ozone layer depletion, global warming and environment issues raise the necessity for getting a clean and safe energy. For this purpose, the Center for Solar Energy Studies (CSERS) in Libya conducted a huge research work in different applications for solar and renewable energies. One of these important activities is the Solar Gradient Solar Pond technology. It is an effective solar energy collection and storage system which presents a relatively simple and economic method of providing low grade energy with the advantage of annual storage cycle.This paper presents a general review on researches and studies on solar ponds that were conducted by CSERS research team. Tajoura’s Experimental Solar Pond (TESP) is designed as an experimental facility enabling the investigation of various aspects of pond performance. It is constructed by the Center for Solar Energy Studies, in joint cooperation with a Swiss company, with a surface area of about 830 m2, and a depth of 2.5 m, coupled with an evaporative pond of 105 m2 area and 1.5 m deep, equipped with all necessary equipments and measuring control system.The paper also shows the experience of operating MSF desalination unit coupled with TESP solar pond. Finally, other factors affecting the solar pond’s thermal stability were also discussed.

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Solar Pond Performance Enhances Nonconventional Water Resource Availability

International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology - Regular Issue ◽

10.35940/ijeat.d7807.049420 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 1043-1047

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Resource Availability ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Arid Zones ◽

Climate Zones ◽

Solar Ponds ◽

Solar Pond ◽

Upper Gradient ◽

Fayoum Governorate ◽

Semi Arid

In the context of utilizing solar ponds, this research was commenced to enhance their performance so as to rely on them as a nonconventional water resources. Primarily, literature was reviewed in the field of solar ponds. The technique can be used to develop the energy needed for pumping, lifting, collecting or treating water. The agricultural sector users claim that water and energy face problems of environmental degradation due to resources scarcity. This research paper, data was gathered and analyzed, in terms of solar pond parameters such as depth of the upper gradient, shading effect, storage zones, daylight hours, ground temperature and covered insulation for different climate zones so as for different latitudes. The analyzed results indicated that solar ponds possess high potential in arid and semi-arid climates similar to Fayoum governorate, where it is distinguished by its ability to collect heat which can be utilized in different applications. The application cover desalination, electric power generation, salt purification, food and fishing industries. The solar pond technique utilized in many countries to act as the backbone for sustainable development in arid and semi-arid zones such as Victoria desert in Australia.

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