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Enhanced energy and exergy performance of trapezoidal solar ponds via coal cinder integration

Author

Listed:
  • Vinoth Kumar, J.
  • Venkatesan, M.
  • Prakash, K.B.
  • Paramasivam, Sivakumar
  • Gulbarga, Mohammad Imtiyaz
  • Asif, Mohammad
  • Afzal, Asif
  • Keçebaş, Ali

Abstract

Salt Gradient Solar Ponds (SGSPs) offer a promising solution for sustainable thermal energy storage. This study introduces a novel trapezoidal SGSP enhanced with coal cinder as a porous medium and a double-glass cover to reduce convective heat loss and improve thermal retention. The research bridges a gap in existing literature by experimentally and numerically evaluating the impact of porous media on SGSP performance. Two configurations—a conventional pond (SGTSP-C) and a coal-cinder-enhanced version (SGTSP-CC)—were analyzed. The enhanced pond achieved a 26.63 % higher LCZ temperature, reaching 62.45 °C, compared to 49.32 °C in the baseline setup. Energy and exergy efficiencies improved notably from 9.2 % to 15.4 % and from 0.5 % to 0.94 %, respectively. Validated numerical simulations further confirmed that coal cinder enhances thermal stratification and stability by reducing convective mixing. The findings demonstrate the potential of porous media integration for improving SGSP efficiency and advancing solar thermal energy storage systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Vinoth Kumar, J. & Venkatesan, M. & Prakash, K.B. & Paramasivam, Sivakumar & Gulbarga, Mohammad Imtiyaz & Asif, Mohammad & Afzal, Asif & Keçebaş, Ali, 2026. "Enhanced energy and exergy performance of trapezoidal solar ponds via coal cinder integration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PD).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pd:s0960148125017987
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124134
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    References listed on IDEAS

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