Operation of a Small-Scale Salt-Gradient Solar Pond: Experimental Results

1986 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Elhadidy ◽  
B. G. Nimmo ◽  
S. Zubair
Keyword(s):  
Small Scale ◽  
Chloride Salt ◽  
Temperature Profiles ◽  
Density Profiles ◽  
Gradient Zone ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
Salt Gradient ◽  
Will Self ◽  
Bottom Zone ◽  
Convective Cells

A small-scale sodium chloride salt gradient solar pond was operated outdoors in Dhahran over a period of nine months. Vertical temperature profiles in the pond and in the ground underneath the pond, density profiles and temperatures at fixed locations in the pond were measured. Variation of the bottom zone temperature with time over the operating period is presented as well as representative vertical pond temperature profiles taken in the morning and afternoon. From these profiles and additional temperature data taken from fixed locations in the bottom zone, some insight was gained regarding onset of bottom convection and the midday total energy collection. Evidence is shown which suggests that weak convective cells in the gradient zone will “self-heal” even when on the order of 5 cm in thickness.

Study on the Thermal Effect of Adding Coal Cinder to the LCZ of Solar Pond

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 294-298
Author(s):  
Hua Wang ◽  
Jun Li Liu ◽  
Jia Ning Zou
Keyword(s):  
Normal Modes ◽  
Temperature Evolution ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Solar Ponds ◽  
Average Temperature ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
Salt Gradient ◽  
Increasing Temperature

In this study, adding coal cinder to bottom of solar pond as a means of increasing temperature of the solar pond is presented. A series of small-scale tests are conducted in the simple mini solar ponds. These small-scale tests include the temperature evolution comparisons of this mode with other normal modes; the comparisons of the material added to LCZ and the comparisons of the different soaking times for coal cinder. In addition, a numerical calculation on predicting temperature evolution in large area of salt gradient solar pond is also given. Both of the experimental and numerical results suggest that adding porous media with low thermal diffusivity (e.g. coal cinder) could significantly increase the temperature in the vicinity of the bottom of the pond. From the view of long-term, this effect is supposed to enhance the average temperature of the solar pond.

Construction and Startup Performance of the Miamisburg Salt-Gradient Solar Pond

1981 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Wittenberg ◽  
M. J. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Storage Temperature ◽  
Water Clarity ◽  
Pond Water ◽  
Convective Zone ◽  
Fuel Oil ◽  
Gradient Zone ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
Salt Gradient ◽  
Startup Performance ◽  
The Cost

The largest salt-gradient solar pond in the U. S. occupies an area of 2020 m2 and was installed for only $35/m2. The pond has a storage layer of 1.6 m consisting of 18 percent sodium chloride, a l-m gradient zone and a 0.4-m top convective zone. After 1.5 yr of operation, the storage temperature reached a maximum of 64°C in July and a minimum of 28°C in February. During July-September 1979, 143.5 GJ (136 million Btu) of heat was utilized. Under steady-state conditions, the pond is conservatively predicted to deliver over 1015 GJ/yr (962 million Btu) of heat to be used principally for heating an outdoor swimming pool in the summer and an adjacent recreation building from October to December each year. Based upon a 15-yr depreciation of the installation costs, the cost of this heat, $8.95/GJ ($9.45/million Btu) is already below the cost of heating with fuel oil. Maintenance of water clarity, corrosion of metallic components, and the assurance of the containment of the pond water have been the principal operational concerns and will require further study.

Experiment and optimization of mixed medium effect on small-scale salt gradient solar pond

Solar Energy ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 102-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Assari ◽  
Hassan Basirat Tabrizi ◽  
Mohsen Parvar ◽  
Ali Kavoosi Nejad ◽  
Alireza Jafar Gholi Beik
Keyword(s):  
Medium Effect ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
Mixed Medium ◽  
Salt Gradient

Depth Sounding Diagnostic Measurements of Salt Gradient Solar Ponds

1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Newell ◽  
J. R. Hull
Keyword(s):  
National Laboratory ◽  
Argonne National Laboratory ◽  
Lower Boundary ◽  
Gradient Zone ◽  
Solar Ponds ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
Side Walls ◽  
Salt Gradient ◽  
Depth Sounding

A recording depth sounding instrument has provided several different diagnostic measurements in the 1000 m2 Research Salt Gradient Solar Pond at Argonne National Laboratory. The sounder has been used to locate gradient zone boundaries and layers of debris within the pond. The instrument has also helped to verify that the presence of salt piles in the bottom of the pond has been responsible for automatically maintaining the constant position of the gradient zone lower boundary during the last three years. Subsurface waves have been observed at the bottom of the gradient zone near the pond side walls. The sounding instrument has also proved capable of identifying density driven plumes and turbulent disturbances within the pond.

Design, Construction, and Initial Operation of a 3355 m2 Solar Pond in El Paso

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Reid ◽  
A. H. P. Swift ◽  
W. J. Boegli ◽  
V. R. Kane ◽  
B. A. Castaneda
Keyword(s):  
Food Processing ◽  
El Paso ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Chloride Salt ◽  
Construction Design ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
Storage Pond ◽  
Salt Gradient ◽  
Design Construction

A 3355 square meter, 3.3 m deep water storage pond in El Paso, Tex. was converted to a salt-gradient solar pond to supply industrial process heat to an adjacent food processing plant. Approximately 1.9 × 106 kg of sodium chloride salt was obtained to prepare near saturated brine for pond construction. Design and construction of the solar pond are described in detail including the lining technique, salt dissolution method, diffuser design, instrumentation, maintenance of optical clarity, and gradient establishment, including resolution of initial problems in gradient stability. The solar pond has been in continuous operation for over three years.

A Numerical Model to Describe the Layer Behavior in Salt-Gradient Solar Ponds

1983 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Temperature Profiles ◽  
Empirical Correlations ◽  
Simulation Experiments ◽  
Solar Ponds ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
Dependent Behavior ◽  
Salt Gradient ◽  
Layer Behavior

A numerical model has been developed to describe the time-dependent behavior of the interfaces between the convecting and nonconvecting regions of a salt-gradient solar pond. Salinity and temperature profiles, as a function of time, are also determined by the model. The model utilizes empirical correlations from the oceanographic literature that describe the heat and salt fluxes across the interfaces. The model also contains a treatment of entrainment caused by wind-generated turbulence. We find agreement of the calculated behavior with observations made on laboratory-scale solar pond simulation experiments. The model is used to determine pond performance under various operating conditions.

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