Design and performance analysis of salinity gradient solar pond under different climatic and soil conditions

Abstract

A salinity gradient solar pond (SGSP) is capable of storing a significant quantity of heat for an extended period of time. It is a great option for providing hot water at a reduced energy cost. Additionally, SGSP is used in low-temperature industrial applications such as saltwater desalination, space heating, and power generation. Solar pond thermal performance is dependent on a variety of operational variables, including the soil conditions, the climate of the particular site, the thickness of the solar pond layers, the depth of the water table, and the salt content of the pond. As such, this study examines the thermal performance of a solar pond under a variety of operational conditions. The solar pond model is used to test the thermal performance by simulating two-dimensional heat and mass transport equations. The equations are solved using the finite difference technique utilizing MATLAB® scripts. Salt distributions and temperature profiles are computed for a variety of factors influencing SGSP’s thermal performance. The main distinguishing variables influencing the thermal performance of SGSP are soil conditions, such as soil texture, types, the moisture level in soil, and water table depth. The final findings indicated that the fine sand dry soil performed better than the other soil types owing to its poor heat conductivity. The economic results indicated that the period of return (POR) of the intended system is around 2 years. The solar pond construction costs such as excavation, transportation, salt and lining, were considered based on the local prices. This modeled study extracted the greatest possible energy is 110W/m2, with the fine sand dry at 62.48°C lowest temperature. This study suggested that the climatic conditions of Lahore is better than climatic conditions of Islamabad. Additionally, deeper water tables are suggested for improved thermal performance of the pond.