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A transient model for temperature prediction in a salt-gradient solar pond and the ground beneath it

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  • Amigo, José
  • Meza, Francisco
  • Suárez, Francisco

Abstract

Salt-gradient solar ponds are cost-effective long-term solar collectors that can store low-grade heat and deliver it continuously. For design and operation purposes, it is important to develop computational tools that can represent energy fluxes at the interface between the bottom of the pond and the ground beneath it. In this study, a robust one-dimensional transient model is developed to represent the thermal evolution of a salt-gradient solar pond and the ground that surrounds it. The model was evaluated under different contrasting scenarios: buried or unburied ponds, artificially or naturally heated ponds and for deep or shallow groundwater tables. Experimental data from an indoor laboratory-scale solar pond were used for the development, calibration and validation of the model. A good agreement between experimental and modeled results was observed, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.21 °C and 1.54 °C for the upper and lower convective zones respectively, during a 28-days validation period. Further, the model was validated using experimental data from three outdoor salt-gradient solar ponds obtaining RMSEs that ranged between 1.5 and 6.5 °C. Results show that dividing the ground into multiple layers contributes to the robustness of the model, as it allows the representation of the ground heat storage.

Suggested Citation

  • Amigo, José & Meza, Francisco & Suárez, Francisco, 2017. "A transient model for temperature prediction in a salt-gradient solar pond and the ground beneath it," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 257-268.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:132:y:2017:i:c:p:257-268
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.05.063
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Amigo, José & Suárez, Francisco, 2018. "Ground heat storage beneath salt-gradient solar ponds under constant heat demand," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 657-668.
    2. Anagnostopoulos, Argyrios & Sebastia-Saez, Daniel & Campbell, Alasdair N. & Arellano-Garcia, Harvey, 2020. "Finite element modelling of the thermal performance of salinity gradient solar ponds," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    3. González, Daniel & Amigo, José & Suárez, Francisco, 2017. "Membrane distillation: Perspectives for sustainable and improved desalination," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 238-259.
    4. Ganguly, Sayantan & Date, Abhijit & Akbarzadeh, Aliakbar, 2019. "On increasing the thermal mass of a salinity gradient solar pond with external heat addition: A transient study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 43-56.
    5. Ghaebi, Hadi & Rostamzadeh, Hadi, 2020. "Performance comparison of two new cogeneration systems for freshwater and power production based on organic Rankine and Kalina cycles driven by salinity-gradient solar pond," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 748-767.

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