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Design and optimization of the gel solar pond
Author(s) -
Wilkins E.,
Lee T. K.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450650312
Subject(s) - solar pond , salinity , constant (computer programming) , environmental science , temperature gradient , materials science , geology , solar energy , computer science , meteorology , ecology , geography , oceanography , biology , programming language
The gel pond concept is a unique modification of the conventional salt gradient solar pond. It replaces the salinity gradient zone by a transparent polymer gel and thereby eliminates all problems of instability associated with the former. A framework for the preliminary design of a gel pond to serve different purposes has been presented here. Heat extraction at constant pond storage zone temperatures of 40°–80°C at storage zone depths of 2–5 m has been considered and optimum pond dimensions have been predicted depending upon maximum and minimum heat load constraints. The computer simulations are carried out with the meteorological conditions for Albuquerque, New Mexico. For example, the simulations show that the gel pond can provide an average heat load of 107 W/m 2 , a typical domestic water heating requirement, at a constant pond temperature of 40°C with a storage zone depth of 4.0 m and gel thickness of 0.6 m. For the case of power generation, the pond can provide a minimum of 32 W/m 2 at a constant pond temperature of 80°C with a storage zone depth of 4 m and gel thickness of 0.6 m. These factors combined with the easy operation and maintenance of the gel pond seem to make it a better alternative compared with the conventional salt gradient pond.