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Finite element modelling of the thermal performance of salinity gradient solar ponds

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  • Anagnostopoulos, Argyrios
  • Sebastia-Saez, Daniel
  • Campbell, Alasdair N.
  • Arellano-Garcia, Harvey

Abstract

Solar ponds are a promising technology to capture and store solar energy. Accurate, reliable and versatile models are thus needed to assess the thermal performance of salinity gradient solar ponds. A CFD simulation set-up has been developed in this work to obtain a fully versatile model applicable to any practical scenario. Also, a comparison between the results obtained with an existing one-dimensional MATLAB model and the two- and three-dimensional CFD models developed in this work has been carried out to quantify the gain in accuracy and the increase in computational resources needed. The two and three-dimensional models achieve considerably higher accuracy than the 1-D model. They are subsequently found to accurately evaluate the heat loss to the surroundings, the irradiance absorbed by the solar pond and the thermal performance of the pond throughout the year. Two geographic locations: Bafgh (Iran) and Kuwait City, have been evaluated.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:203:y:2020:i:c:s0360544220309683
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.117861
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    2. Tsogtbilegt Boldoo & Jeonggyun Ham & Eui Kim & Honghyun Cho, 2020. "Review of the Photothermal Energy Conversion Performance of Nanofluids, Their Applications, and Recent Advances," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-33, November.
    3. Ahmad Saleh, 2022. "Modeling and Performance Analysis of a Solar Pond Integrated with an Absorption Cooling System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-26, November.
    4. Liu, Chao & Hashemian, Mehran & Shawabkeh, Ali & Dizaji, Hamed Sadighi & Saleem, S. & Mohideen Batcha, Mohd Faizal & Wae-hayee, Makatar, 2021. "CFD-based irreversibility analysis of avant-garde semi-O/O-shape grooving fashions of solar pond heat trade-off unit," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 328-343.

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