scholarly journals A Technical Note on Fabrication and Thermal Performance Studies of a Solar Pond Model

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishek Saxena ◽  
Varun Goel

A solar pond has been fabricated to analyze the thermal behavior of it, in the climatic conditions of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Sodium chloride (NaCl) has been used to form a salt gradient for better performance, and a dark-colored (blackened) rigid surface bottom with 1 mm irregularities has been considered for trapping the heat in a good amount. A solar pond with a surface area of 2.56 m2and a depth of 1 m has been filled with salty water of various densities to form three salty water zones (upper convective, nonconvective, and heat storage). A few investigations have been carried out to evaluate the thermal efficiencies of three different zones of the solar pond. An attempt is also made to improve the thermal performance of the salt gradient solar pond.

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 59-71
Author(s):  
Devendra B. Sadaphale ◽  
S.P. Shekhawat ◽  
Vijay R. Diware

Salt gradient solar ponds are to be designed for thermal efficiency and salinity profile stability. As the salt flux moves upward in the pond, the gradient gets destabilized. This is counteracted by intrusion of salt at different levels as and when required. The density of salt is highest at the bottom and minimum at the top. Hence the destabilization effect is more at top that is at the interface of upper convective zone and non-convective zone (NCZ). In order to keep the interface stable, it is desirable to provide a higher slope of salt gradient near it. However, throughout the non-convective zone, it is not feasible to provide higher slope due to solubility limitations. Hence Husain et al (2012) to divide the NCZ into two parts. The top few centimeters may be given a higher slope and the rest of the zone may be given mild slope as usual. Husain et al (2012) have given analysis for the same and found it to be feasible. However, the experimental feasibility of the same needs to be verified. The present work has done an attempt for the same. In this study, an insulated solar pond with a surface area of 1.40 m2and a depth of 1.14 m is built at the SSBT’s College of Engineering and Technology, Jalgaon in the Maharashtra State (India). The three salty water zones (upper convective, non-convective and heat storage) were formed by filling the pond with salty water of various densities. 6 Thermocouples (type Pt100A) (C+0.2%) were used to measure the temperature profile within the pond. A maximum temperature of 47°C was recorded in the heat storage zone in time span considered for study. The results obtained from experimentation is verified with the concept suggested by Hussain et al (2012) it has been found that they are in a good agreement. The influence of varying the thicknesses of the zones present in a salinity gradient solar pond on the temperatures of the upper convective zone (UCZ) and the lower convective zone (LCZ) is investigated. Also, it is found that by adding the additional non convective zone of 50 mm thickness above the UCZ the heat collection capacity of the LCZ is increased noticeably. The study finds that thickness variation of the zones within the pond is a practical feasibility. The system worked for the entire experimental duration effectively without failure.


2020 ◽  
pp. 014459872097416
Author(s):  
Hua Wang ◽  
Ma Xiaomeng ◽  
Zhang Liugang ◽  
Xinmin Zhang ◽  
Yanyang Mei ◽  
...  

In this paper, the effect of adding the composite PCM (Phase Change Material) heat storage capsules to the heat storage layer of the salt gradient solar pond on the thermal performance of the solar pond was studied numerically and experimentally. Based on the program-controlled temperature simulation of the solar pond experimental platform, the effect of adding the composite PCM (48–50°C and 58–60°C melting point paraffin) heat storage capsules on the solar pond temperature and stability was studied, and a numerical simulation model was established to be compared by the experimental results. The results showed that the experimental temperature was consistent with the simulation results; the solar pond with PCM capsules had a smaller temperature change range than the conventional solar pond during the phase change process, but it did not have such effect in the non-phase transition process; in terms of flow, the addition of the PCM phase change units could reduce the flow rate of the heat storage zone, and the PCM with a larger latent heat had a more obvious suppression effect on the flow. Therefore, within a certain temperature range, adding PCM units to the solar pond had a positive effect on maintaining the stable temperature and stability of solar pond.


2018 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 02002
Author(s):  
Sogukpinar Haci ◽  
Bozkurt Ismail ◽  
Cag Serkan

Solar ponds are heat storage systems where solar energy is collected and stored thermally. Solar ponds were discovered during the temperature variations in the lower regions of existing saltwater pond in the area is found to be higher than their surface. Later, it was constructed artificially and started to be used. These systems have heat storage capacity at moderate temperatures. Solar pons are used in many areas such as electricity generation, heating the environment, meeting the need of hot water, drying food and obtaining fresh water from salty water. In this study, the studies about solar ponds were summarized, the construction of solar pond was explained, and the application areas were examined.


2014 ◽  
Vol 472 ◽  
pp. 409-412
Author(s):  
Chun Juan Gao ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Ze Liang Dong ◽  
Shu Yuan Guo ◽  
Xi Ping Huang

In this paper, it was presented that the establishment and experimental investigation of a salt-gradient solar pond. The solar pond was filled with salty water to form three zones (e.g., upper convective zone, non-convective zone and lower convective zone) accordingly with different methods of saline injection. Parameters like salinity and temperature were measured and recorded daily at various locations in the salt-gradient solar pond. The results showed that solar pond collected and stored solar energy for a long period of time can be possible by controlling the thickness and salinity of salt gradient layer of the solar pond.


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