Effect of lower convective zone thickness and swirl flow on the performance of a salinity gradient solar pond

Abstract

Solar ponds collect solar radiation and store it in the form of thermal energy over a period of time. The performance of a solar pond depends upon the performance of the heat exchange process. In this study, a laboratory model solar pond was fabricated and provided with an in-pond heat exchanger. To perform the computational study the lower convective zone (LCZ) of the solar pond alone was modelled using ANSYS Design Modeler. The analysis was carried out on the plain tube in-pond heat exchanger of the solar pond for different heights of LCZ for two different flow rates of heat transfer fluid. The performance parameters such as outlet water temperature, rate of heat transfer, effectiveness of heat exchanger, and pressure drop were analysed. The rate of heat transfer, pressure drop, Nusselt number and effectiveness of heat exchanger are evaluated by changing the velocity vectors of the fluid flow at the entrance of the in-pond heat exchanger. The rate of heat transfer is found to be higher for turbulent flow than laminar flow for different temperatures of LCZ.