How do you design a solar pond?

Designing solar ponds involves the use of various modeling methods to analyze and optimize their performance. Solar ponds are large-scale, man-made bodies of water that trap solar energy and convert it into thermal energy for various applications, like electricity generation, heating, or desalination.

What parameters should be considered when evaluating solar pond performance?

When the overall performance of the solar pond is considered, two main parameters are taken into consideration: solar radiation incident and useful heat output recovered from the solar pond. Schematic view of the solar pond for overall thermodynamic performance assessment

Can a solar pond balance energy supply and demand?

Solar ponds can balance the energy supply and demand when incorporated with PCM. Solar thermal energy can be stored inside the solar pond and used for solar drying, desalination, and power production. The present study reports the heat change in the solar pond with or without PCM and nanoparticles.

What are the key factors in a solar pond?

Heat storage and heat extraction are the key factors in the solar pond. Salt is added to the pond with fresh water to form a salinity gradient solar pond (SGSP). The solar pond comprises of three zones, namely, the upper convective zone (UCZ), the...

What is a schematic diagram of a solar pond?

A schematic diagram of an overall solar pond is shown in Fig. 5.16 to illustrate all incoming and outgoing energies accordingly. Here, the energy and exergy efficiencies defined overall for such a system are summarized in Table 5.2.

What applications can a solar pond be used for?

However, as mentioned in the previous chapters, solar ponds can be used in various applications, such as water desalination, power generation, drying, etc. Eqs. 5.54 and 5.55 should be revised depending on the application integrated with the solar pond. Examples of the thermodynamic performance of the solar ponds are provided in Chap. 7.