Storage Temperature of Salt-Gradient Solar Pond

Abstract

A solar pond may be used as a large area collector and for the storage of solar energy. The salt‐gradient solar pond is a body of saline water in which the concentration increases with depth. This density gradient inhibits thermal convection, with the result that solar radiation reaching the lower region is trapped and the temperature is raised. A method to estimate the storage temperature variation in the pond is described herein. The storage temperature is estimated by a numerical analysis using meteorological observation data with a time interval of one hour. In this analysis, the following effects are considered: the heat transfer from the pond to the surrounding ground, the change of salt‐gradient due to the diffusion of salt, and the local occurrence of thermal convection. The results of the simulation are compared with data obtained by the writer. The study is based on a condition without heat extraction from the pond.