Heat extraction from the ANL research salt gradient solar pond
This report documents the design considerations and test results of two heat extraction systems for the ANL Research Salt Gradient Solar Pond (RSGSP). Since operation began in November 1980, the RSGSP has been used to study a wide variety of solar pond phenomena, and the behavior of the RSGSP without heat extraction has been well characterized. Heat extraction equipment was installed in the spring of 1984, with heat extraction experiments conducted the following summer and fall and in the fall of 1985. The experiments simulated the use of the solar pond for grain drying. Two methods of heat extraction are compared. For both methods the heat exchangers are sized for 30 kW, with a peak load capability of 60 kW. In the first method, ethylene glycol solution is circulated through a plastic-tube heat exchanger submerged in the pond to a liquid-to-air fin-tube heat exchanger external to the pond. In the second method, hot brine is withdrawn from the bottom of the pond, circulated through a brine-to-air heat exchanger, and the cooled brine is returned to the bottom of the pond. The brine-to-air heat exchanger is constructed from copper-nickel to minimize corrosion. The effects of both heat extraction methods on the stability of the salt gradient are investigated.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 5836739
- Report Number(s):
- ANL-86-17; ON: DE86012088
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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