Simulation of a solar pond using upward flow through the storage zone

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3268114· OSTI ID:6908112

Lowrey, D P; Johnson, R R

This paper proposes a design modification that would reduce heat losses to the ground from the Storage Zone (SZ) of a solar pond, while increasing the rate of heat extraction. This modification would use a thermally stratified, opaque SZ, and would induce a slow, upward flow by decanting warmed water near the top of the SZ and then returning this water to the bottom of the SZ after removing some heat. This innovation would help sensible heating applications, especially heating water up from ambient temperature, but would not help latent heating applications such as electric power cycles. A computer simulation of this design predicts heat extraction rates 13-62 percent higher than in conventional ponds. Gains are greatest if the return flow at the bottom of the SZ is near the ambient temperature, if the peak temperature of the heat extracted is high, or if water clarity in the upper pond layers is poor.

• Research Organization: San Diego State Univ., San Diego, CA 92182
• OSTI ID: 6908112
• Journal Information: J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States) Vol. 108:4; ISSN JSEED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
CIRCULATING SYSTEMS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DESIGN
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
FLOW MODELS
HEAT EXTRACTION
HEAT LOSSES
HEAT STORAGE
HEATING
LATENT HEAT STORAGE
LAYERS
LOSSES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MODIFICATIONS
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PONDS
REMOVAL
SENSIBLE HEAT STORAGE
SIMULATION
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR PONDS
STORAGE
SURFACE WATERS
WATER HEATING
WATER REMOVAL