4.8.

SOLAR POND
Solar pond, also called solar 'salt pond', is an artificially designed pond, filled with salty
water, maintaining a definite concentration gradient. It combines solar energy radiation and
wonsible heat storage, and as such, it is utilised for collecting and storing solar energy.
A Solar pond reduces the convective and evaporative heat losses by reversing the
temperature gradient with the help of non-uniform vertical concentration of salts.
Fig. 4.3 illustrates the principle of solar pond.
The vertical configuration of "salt gradient solar pond" normally consist of the following
three zones:
1. "Surface (homogeneous) convective zone (SCZy'. It is adjacent to the surface and
serves as a buffer zone between environmental fluctuations at the surface and
conductive heat transport from the layer below. It is about 10 to 20 cm thick with
alow uniform concentration at nearly the ambient air temperature.
is the layer
2. "Lowver connective zone (LCG)". It is at the bottomn of the pond, and this
with highest salt concentration, where high temperatures are builtup.
zone keeps the two
3. "Concentration/Intermediate gradient zone (CGZ)". This pond its unique
convective zones (SCG and LCG) apart and gives the solarstorage layer, while
thermal performance. It provides excellent insulation for the
this non-equilibrium
transmitting the solar radiation. To maintain a solar pond inthat is transported by
of salt
stationary state it is necessary to replace the amount
means that salt must be added to
This
molecular diffusion from the LCG to SCZ. brine is removed. The brine can be
water to the SCG whilst
the LCG, and fresh to the
divided into water and salt (by solar distillation) and returned
recycled,
pond. surface of the solar pond. This heat loss can be
fromn the
The major heat loss occurs pond's surface to prevent disturbance by
grid over the
prevented by spreading a plastic
tends to lose heat transfer faster than when calm.
the wind. Disturbed water

Sun
Solar radiation

Brine
(salt water)
cool watèx
Low salt content SCG
Fresh Lighter layerloats ogop
water

Concentration gradient zone CGZ

Hot
water
hot water LCG
High salt content
Return Heavier layer sink:ksto bottom
water

solar pond.
Fig.4.3. Principle of
 82 Non-Conventional Energy Sources and Utilisation

Due to the excessively high salt concentration of the LCZ, aplastic liner or mpermeable
soil must be used to prevent infiltration into the nearby ground water or soil. The liner is a
soil is naturally impermeable,
factor that increases the cost of a solar pond. Asite where theimpermeable
such as the base of a natural pond or lake,or can be made by compaction or
other means, will allow considerably lower power costs.
The optical transmission properties and related collection efficiency vary greatly and depend
on the following factors:
() Salt concentration.
() The quantity of suspended dust or other particles.
bacteria and
(m) Surface impurities like leaves or debris, biological material like
algae.
(iv) The type of salt.
achieved through
It becomes obvious that much higher efficiencies and storage can be transmission.
the utilization of refined or pure salt whenever possible, as this maximizes optical
as direct radiation, and will gather
E The solar pond is an effective collector of diffuse, as wellconditions,
Leful heat even on cloudy or overcast days. Under ideal the pond's absorption
eificiency can reach 50% of incoming solar radiation, although actual efficiencies average
over 60°C the heat
about 20% due to heat losses. Once the lower layer of the pond reaches temperature organic
generated can be drawn off through a heat exchanger and used to drive a lowcreated when a low
Rankine cycle (ORC) turbine. This harnesses the pressure differentials
boiling point organic fluid (or gas) is boiled by heat from the pond via a heat exchanger
The conversion
and cooled by a condenser to drive a turbine to generate electricity.
gernerator is 5-8%
efficiency of an organic Rankine cycle turbine driving an electric
(which mean 1-3% from insolation to electricity output).
Applications of solar ponds:
1. Power generation.
2. Space heating and cooling.
3. Crop drying.
4. Desalination.
5. Process heat.
Limitations:
1. Sunny climate.
2. Need for large land area.
3. Availability of salt.
4. Availability of water.
The first solar pond, in India, was built with an area of 1200 m at Central Salt
Research Institute, Bhavnagar in 1973. Thereafter, a number of solar ponds
bave been built and are in operation. The latest pond (the second largest in the
world) built at Bhuj (Gujarat) has an area of 6000 m´ and provides daily 90,000
litres of hot water at 80°C as process heat for can-sterilisation. This pond, owing
to high radiation intensity and low thermal lOSses, maintains a stable salinity
gradient with a maximum temperature of 99°C. The heat stored bythis pond
is adequate to generate 150 kW power.
PLANT
4.9. SOLAR POND ELECTRIC POWER
AJop temperature thermal electric power production scheme using solar pond is shown
natically in Fig. 4.4. The energy obtained tromn a solar pond is used to drive a
 83
Rankine cycle heat engine. Hot water from the bottom level of the pond is
pumped to
the evaporator where the organic working fluid is vapourized. The vapour then flows
high pressure to the turbine where it expands and work thus obtained runs an under
electric
generator producing electricity. The exhaust vapour is then condensed in a condenser and the
liquid is pumped back to the evaporator and the cycle is repeated.
-Cooling tower
(Sun)
Hot
water
Condenser
Cold water
Solar radiatiorn Evaporator/Boiler

Hot brine Organic

Solar pond fluid Pump
Cold
brine

Turbine Generator

Electrical
output
Fig. 4.4.