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.

El Paso Solar Pond

2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 178-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huanmin Lu and ◽  
Andrew H. P. Swift
Keyword(s):  
Systems Approach ◽  
Salinity Gradient ◽  
El Paso ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
The United States ◽  
Convective Zone ◽  
Bureau Of Reclamation ◽  
University Of Texas ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
Brine Management

The El Paso Solar Pond, a research, development, and demonstration project operated by the University of Texas at El Paso, is a salinity-gradient solar pond with a surface area of 3,000 m2 and a depth of 3.2 m. The pond utilizes an aqueous solution of predominantly sodium chloride (NaCl). The surface convective zone, main gradient zone, and bottom convective zone are approximately 0.6 m, 1.4 m, and 1.2 m, respectively. The project, located on the property of Bruce Foods, Inc., was initiated in 1983 in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Since then, the El Paso Solar Pond has successfully developed a series of technologies for solar pond operation and maintenance, as well as demonstrated several different applications. In 1985, the El Paso Solar Pond became the first in the world to deliver industrial process heat to a commercial manufacturer; in 1986 became the first solar pond electric power generating facility in the United States; and in 1987 became the nation’s first experimental solar pond powered water desalting facility. Currently, the major research at El Paso Solar Pond is focused on desalination and brine management technologies. The long-term goal of this research is to develop a systems approach for desalination/brine management via a multiple process desalination coupled with solar ponds. This systems approach will reuse the brine concentrate rejected from desalting plants thereby negating the need for disposal (zero discharge), and provide additional pollution-free renewable energy for the desalting process.

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.

The design, construction, and initial operation of a closed-cycle, salt-gradient solar pond

Solar Energy ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.B. Alagao ◽  
A. Akbarzadeh ◽  
P.W. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Closed Cycle ◽  
Initial Operation ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
Salt Gradient ◽  
Design Construction

Topics in Gradient Maintenance and Salt Recycling in an Operational Solar Pond

1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. P. Swift ◽  
Peter Golding
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Power ◽  
El Paso ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Injection System ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Experimental Production ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
System A ◽  
Storage Zone ◽  
Brine Concentration

Since 1986, the 3355 m2 salt gradient solar pond facility in El Paso, Texas, has operated with a temperature difference between the upper and lower zones of 55 to 75° C while delivering industrial process heat, grid-connected electrical power, and thermal energy for the experimental production of desalted water. Because the El Paso solar pond is an inland facility, it is necessary to recycle the salt in a sustainable salt management system. A method that uses the main pond surface for initial brine concentration and short-term storage was developed after it became evident that the original evaporation pond system was undersized. This paper examines the method for brine concentration and storage, the effects of a brine storage zone on pond operation, and the installation of an enhanced evaporation net system and an automatic scanning injection system. A short description of the performance history and current status of the project is also included.

Advancements in Salinity Gradient Solar Pond Technology Based on Sixteen Years of Operational Experience

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 759-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huanmin Lu ◽  
Andrew H. P. Swift ◽  
Herbert D. Hein, ◽  
John C. Walton
Keyword(s):  
Salinity Gradient ◽  
El Paso ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Heat Extraction ◽  
Injection Technique ◽  
Operational Experience ◽  
Solar Ponds ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
Analysis Strategy

The El Paso salinity gradient solar pond, initiated in 1983, has been in operation since 1985. Through 16 years of research and operation, the El Paso Solar Pond has successfully demonstrated applications including desalination, waste brine management, industrial process heat production, and electricity generation; and has developed and implemented key technical advancements to improve the technical viability and economic feasibility of salinity gradient solar ponds, including: 1) an automated instrumentation monitoring system, 2) a stability analysis strategy and high temperature (60–90°C) gradient maintenance methods, 3) a scanning injection technique for improved salinity gradient construction and maintenance, 4) new liner technology, and 5) an improved heat extraction system.

Teams, Incentive Pay, and Productive Efficiency: Evidence from a Food-Processing Plant

ILR Review ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 606-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek C. Jones ◽  
Panu Kalmi ◽  
Antti Kauhanen
Keyword(s):  
Food Processing ◽  
Productive Efficiency ◽  
Incentive Pay ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Food Processing Plant

Outbreak ofNeisseria meningitidisC in workers at a large food-processing plant in Brazil: challenges of controlling disease spread to the larger community

2011 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
pp. 906-915 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. P. M. ISER ◽  
H. C. A. V. LIMA ◽  
C. De MORAES ◽  
R. P. A. De ALMEIDA ◽  
L. T. WATANABE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Processing ◽  
Purpura Fulminans ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Sterile Site ◽  
Matched Case ◽  
Epidemiological Link ◽  
Control Study ◽  
Food Processing Plant

SUMMARYAn outbreak of meningococcal disease (MD) with severe morbidity and mortality was investigated in midwestern Brazil in order to identify control measures. A MD case was defined as isolation ofNeisseria meningitidis, or detection of polysaccharide antigen in a sterile site, or presence of clinical purpura fulminans, or an epidemiological link with a laboratory-confirmed case-patient, between June and August 2008. In 8 out of 16 MD cases studied, serogroup C ST103 complex was identified. Five (31%) cases had neurological findings and five (31%) died. The attack rate was 12 cases/100 000 town residents and 60 cases/100 000 employees in a large local food-processing plant. We conducted a matched case-control study of eight primary laboratory-confirmed cases (1:4). Factors associated with illness in single variable analysis were work at the processing plant [matched odds ratio (mOR) 22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·3–207·7,P<0·01], and residing <1 year in Rio Verde (mOR 7, 95% CI 1·11–43·9,P<0·02). Mass vaccination (>10 000 plant employees) stopped propagation in the plant, but not in the larger community.

scholarly journals Assessment of a vertical high-resolution distributed-temperature-sensing system in a shallow thermohaline environment

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 1081-1093 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Suárez ◽  
J. E. Aravena ◽  
M. B. Hausner ◽  
A. E. Childress ◽  
S. W. Tyler
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Temperature Sensing ◽  
Distributed Temperature Sensing ◽  
Temperature Resolution ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Solar Pond ◽  
Salt Gradient ◽  
Time Averages ◽  
Corrosive Environments ◽  
And Storage

Abstract. In shallow thermohaline-driven lakes it is important to measure temperature on fine spatial and temporal scales to detect stratification or different hydrodynamic regimes. Raman spectra distributed temperature sensing (DTS) is an approach available to provide high spatial and temporal temperature resolution. A vertical high-resolution DTS system was constructed to overcome the problems of typical methods used in the past, i.e., without disturbing the water column, and with resistance to corrosive environments. This paper describes a method to quantitatively assess accuracy, precision and other limitations of DTS systems to fully utilize the capacity of this technology, with a focus on vertical high-resolution to measure temperatures in shallow thermohaline environments. It also presents a new method to manually calibrate temperatures along the optical fiber achieving significant improved resolution. The vertical high-resolution DTS system is used to monitor the thermal behavior of a salt-gradient solar pond, which is an engineered shallow thermohaline system that allows collection and storage of solar energy for a long period of time. The vertical high-resolution DTS system monitors the temperature profile each 1.1 cm vertically and in time averages as small as 10 s. Temperature resolution as low as 0.035 °C is obtained when the data are collected at 5-min intervals.

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