Experimental Study on the Recirculation of Homogeneous and Stratified Fluid Layers in the Advanced Solar Pond

Abstract

The practical possibilities of constructing and operating a stable flow of homogeneous and stratified fluid layers in a solar pond were investigated in this study. A laboratory setup was prepared to carry out the experimental investigations. Transient and steady-state conditions were analyzed. A numerical model was developed to simulate heat, salt, and momentum transfer in the water body. The model was calibrated with the experimental data. Density and temperature measurements along the laboratory setup showed the configuration to be stable in all of the conditions which were analyzed. These experimental results indicated that through a proper multiselective injection and withdrawal procedure it was possible to create and control the double-diffusion stratified fluid layers, which characterizes the advanced solar pond.