Theoretical Performance of a Solar Pond With Enhanced Ground Energy Storage

Abstract

A method was proposed earlier by the authors for the enhancement of energy storage in the ground beneath solar ponds employing the trapezoidal-shaped trenches at the bottom of the pond. The theoretical performance of the solar pond with trapezoidal trenches is presented for constant and variable energy extraction patterns. The results indicate that the trenches could be effective in reducing the thickness of lower convective layer and hence the salt requirement of the pond. However, the effectiveness of the trenches seems to be dependent on the energy extraction pattern. For the constant extraction pattern of 63.9 W m−2, it is found that 36.5 percent reduction in the salt requirement can be achieved with 3-m deep trenches compared to the flat-bottom pond. For the variable extraction pattern, the reduction was only 21.5 percent.