Gradient zone boundary control in salt gradient solar ponds

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:864858

Hull, John R ^[1]

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1. Downers Grove, IL

A method and apparatus for suppressing zone boundary migration in a salt gradient solar pond includes extending perforated membranes across the pond at the boundaries, between the convective and non-convective zones, the perforations being small enough in size to prevent individual turbulence disturbances from penetrating the hole, but being large enough to allow easy molecular diffusion of salt thereby preventing the formation of convective zones in the gradient layer. The total area of the perforations is a sizable fraction of the membrane area to allow sufficient salt diffusion while preventing turbulent entrainment into the gradient zone.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4429683
• OSTI ID: 864858
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

gradient
zone
boundary
control
salt
solar
ponds
method
apparatus
suppressing
migration
pond
extending
perforated
membranes
boundaries
convective
non-convective
zones
perforations
size
prevent
individual
turbulence
disturbances
penetrating
allow
easy
molecular
diffusion
preventing
formation
layer
total
sizable
fraction
membrane
sufficient
turbulent
entrainment
salt gradient
zone boundary
gradient solar
solar pond
allow sufficient
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