Numerical study of Soret and Dufour coefficients on heat and mass transfer in a salt gradient solar pond

Abstract

In this work, we investigate numerically the effects of Soret and Dufour coefficients on heat and mass transfer in a Salt Gradient Solar Pond (SGSP) using the meteorological data of Tangier (Morocco). This SGSP consists of a square cavity filled with a mixture of water and salt. Transfers equations are solved via the finite volume method and the Gauss method. The SIMPLE algorithm is used to link the velocity and pressure fields. The numerical code, we developed in FORTRAN 95, is first validated by applying it to experimental and numerical studies of the literature. Then, we analyze the effects of Soret and Dufour coefficients on heat and mass transfer inside the SGSP. The results show that, during time, heat and mass transfer are not influenced by Soret coefficient. Nevertheless, increasing Dufour coefficient enhance heat and mass transfer inside the SGSP and disrupts its working mechanism.