Study on the Thermal Effect of Adding Coal Cinder to the LCZ of Solar Pond

Abstract

In this study, adding coal cinder to bottom of solar pond as a means of increasing temperature of the solar pond is presented. A series of small-scale tests are conducted in the simple mini solar ponds. These small-scale tests include the temperature evolution comparisons of this mode with other normal modes; the comparisons of the material added to LCZ and the comparisons of the different soaking times for coal cinder. In addition, a numerical calculation on predicting temperature evolution in large area of salt gradient solar pond is also given. Both of the experimental and numerical results suggest that adding porous media with low thermal diffusivity (e.g. coal cinder) could significantly increase the temperature in the vicinity of the bottom of the pond. From the view of long-term, this effect is supposed to enhance the average temperature of the solar pond.