Shallow solar pond energy conversion system

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Sol. Energy; (United States)

OSTI ID:7356113

Dickinson, W C; Clark, A F; Day, J A; Wouters, L F

The concept of a shallow solar pond energy conversion system is presented as an effective way to produce large-scale electric power from solar energy. Water is used both for heat collection and heat storage. Inexpensive layers of weatherable transparent plastic over the water suppress heat loss to the environment. The hot water is stored in an insulated reservoir at night. The stored hot water heats a thermodynamic fluid, probably Freon 11, which drives a turbine and an electric generator. A shallow solar pond system can be built using materials, fabrication techniques, and geometries that are presently used on a large scale in U.S. industry. A 10 MWe plant built in the Southwest would require a total area of about 2 km/sup 2/ and could provide power for a community or a manufacturing process. The estimated busbar cost of electricity ($1975) for a shallow solar pond system, which could come on line in as short a time as 5-7 yr, is 56 mills/kWh. This cost could be reduced with the development of improved and cheaper plastics and more efficient turbines. Another potentially important use of shallow solar ponds is to provide process hot water, up to the boiling point, for industrial and commercial purposes. Also, a shallow solar pond could provide hot water for the space heating, air conditioning, and hot water needs of a community of homes or apartments.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Livermore
• OSTI ID: 7356113
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Sol. Energy; (United States) Journal Volume: 18:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140700* -- Solar Thermal Power Systems
140901 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Space Heating & Cooling
AIR CONDITIONING
APPLIANCES
CONVERSION
COST
ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
ENERGY
ENERGY CONVERSION
GAS APPLIANCES
HEAT
HEATERS
HEATING
PONDS
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
PROCESS HEAT
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONING
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR PONDS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
SOLAR WATER HEATERS
SPACE HEATING
WATER HEATERS