Enhancing the efficiency of solar pond heat extraction by using both lateral and bottom heat exchangers

In this study, heat extraction from both the gradient and heat storage zones of a salinity-gradient solar pond (SGSP) has been evaluated. For this purpose, an experimental solar pond pilot plant was constructed in 2009 in Barcelona (Spain). The structure of the pond is a cylindrical tank of 3-m heig...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Alcaraz Segura, Aurora, Valderrama Ángel, César Alberto|||0000-0001-6711-8183, Cortina Pallás, José Luis|||0000-0002-3719-5118, Akbarzadeh, Aliakbar, Farran Marsà, Adriana|||0000-0002-7837-0867
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/90160
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/90160
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.04.025
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Energy storage
Solar ponds
Solar radiation
Solar energy
Solar pond
Heat extraction
Efficiency
Performance
Construction
Transient
Energy
Energia solar
Energia -- Emmagatzematge
Radiació solar
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia solar tèrmica
Descripción
Sumario:In this study, heat extraction from both the gradient and heat storage zones of a salinity-gradient solar pond (SGSP) has been evaluated. For this purpose, an experimental solar pond pilot plant was constructed in 2009 in Barcelona (Spain). The structure of the pond is a cylindrical tank of 3-m height and 8 m diameter with a total area of 50 m(2). The main objective was to evaluate a heat-extraction system from the SGSP designed to enhance the system efficiency under different conditions. Thus, an in-pond heat exchanger covering all of the lateral wall area of the pond was installed, and its performance was compared with the traditional in-pond heat exchanger situated on the bottom of the pond. Heat extraction experiments were performed using both heat exchangers individually or both at the same time. The study covers the experiments performed at three different seasonal temperature conditions: winter (December), summer (July) and autumn (October and November). The variations of the temperature inside the pond during the heat extraction were measured and analyzed. The results demonstrated that the efficiency of the pond increases when the heat is removed from the lateral heat exchanger alone compared to either using the bottom heat exchanger or using both heat exchangers simultaneously