Solar Pond – Construction and Working Principle

In this article we will learn about Solar Pond – Construction and Working Principle. Solar ponds are also called solar salts ponds. Natural ponds convert solar radiation into heat.

But it is also very soon by convection from the pond It is also lost from its surface by radiation. Solar ponds use randomly permeable salts to control temperature differences, convective and Designed to minimize evaporative losses.

The top layer has less salt and the bottom layer has more salt. And it will continue to be down and hot. Solar energy is extracted from the deep surface and used to generate electricity. Model system of solar pond electric power plant Shown. The solar pond is divided into three layers.

1. Top layer: Low density convective layer.
2. Central layer: Non-convective layer. There will be more salt at the bottom.
3. Bottom layer: High density convective storage layer.

The warm water at the bottom is used as a heat source and the cold water at the top is used as a heat sink. The hot water at the bottom is pumped through the evaporator and returns to the bottom of the pond. An organic fluid in the evaporator evaporates and drives the turbo generator.

The exhaust from the turbine is cooled and returned to the evaporator. The cold water required for the condenser is taken from the top layer of the pond.

Applications of solar pond

1. Power generation
3. Crop drying
5. Process heat
2. Space heating and cooling
4. Desalination

Demerits

1. Requires more terrain.
2. Condition in sunlight.
3. Availability of water.
4. Availability of salt.