Solar pond research at the Los Alamos National Laboratory
A description of solar pond research at Los Alamos National Laboratory is presented. The main issues in the theory of solar ponds are discussed. Among these are the interfacial-boundary-layer model, models for interface motion and pond performance, heat extraction, and ground heat loss. The core of the research effort at Los Alamos was the development of a one-dimensional computer program to accurately predict dynamic performance of a solar pond. The computer model and the experiments that were designed and performed to validate it are described. The experiments include two laboratory tanks wherein temperature, salinity, and flow visualization data were obtained and a 232 m/sup 2/ outdoor solar pond. Results from preliminary validation show good agreement between the pond's predicted dynamic behavior and that which actually occurred in the experiments. More validation using data from full-sized solar ponds is needed. A new correlation for the ratio of interfacial salt-flux to heat-flux is proposed which agrees well with our data. Recommendations for future research are given.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); New Mexico Solar Energy Inst., Las Cruces (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5920496
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-84-3541; ON: DE85008631
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SOLAR PONDS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CONVECTION
ENERGY BALANCE
FLOW VISUALIZATION
HEAT EXTRACTION
HEAT FLUX
HEAT LOSSES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SALINITY GRADIENTS
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
HEAT TRANSFER
LAYERS
LOSSES
MASS TRANSFER
PONDS
SIMULATION
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE WATERS
141000* - Solar Collectors & Concentrators