Heat Extraction from a Large, Salt-Gradient Solar Pond

Conference · Mon Nov 26 23:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5861725

Harris, M. J. ^[1]; Wittenberg, L. J. ^[1]

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1. Monsanto Research Corp., Miamisburg, OH (United States). Mound Facility

The Miamisburg Solar Pond is the largest functional, salt-gradient solar pond in the US. It provides low-cost solar energy collection and low temperature heat storage. The heat in the pond is removed by use of a copper-tube heat exchanger which has a surface area of 138 m² (1500 ft²). During the summer of 1979 the initial heat, 39,970 kW^.hr (136 million BTU), was removed for heating an outdoor community swimming pool. Based upon the performance thus far, the pond could yield 381,000 kW^.hr/yr (1300 million BTU/yr) of useful heat. An economic analysis based upon a 10-y amortization of the installation costs of the pond indicates that the cost of the heat, 1.8 cents/kW^.hr/yr ($$\$$$$5.40/million Btu), is already below the current price for heating with fuel oil.

• Research Organization: Monsanto Research Corp., Miamisburg, OH (United States). Mound Facility
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Renewable Energy. Solar Energy Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0053
• OSTI ID: 5861725
• Report Number(s): MLM--2657(OP); CONF-791105-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140907 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Water Heating
141000 -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
142000* -- Solar Energy-- Heat Storage-- (1980-)
COST
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
GREAT LAKES REGION
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT EXTRACTION
HEATING
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
PERFORMANCE
PONDS
SALINITY GRADIENTS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR PONDS
SOLAR WATER HEATING
SURFACE WATERS
SWIMMING POOLS
USA