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A Two-Dimensional Numerical Study of Hydrodynamic, Heat and Mass Transfer and Stability in a Salt Gradient Solar Pond

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  • Ridha Boudhiaf

    (Unit of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Transfer Phenomena (CFDTP), Department of Mechanical Engineers, National Engineering School of Sfax, Street of Soukra, Km 3.5, B.P. 1173, Sfax 3038, Tunisia)

  • Ali Ben Moussa

    (Unit of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Transfer Phenomena (CFDTP), Department of Mechanical Engineers, National Engineering School of Sfax, Street of Soukra, Km 3.5, B.P. 1173, Sfax 3038, Tunisia)

  • Mounir Baccar

    (Unit of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Transfer Phenomena (CFDTP), Department of Mechanical Engineers, National Engineering School of Sfax, Street of Soukra, Km 3.5, B.P. 1173, Sfax 3038, Tunisia)

Abstract

In this work, the problem of hydrodynamic, heat and mass transfer and stability in a salt gradient solar pond has been numerically studied by means of computational fluid dynamics in transient regime. The body of the simulated pond is an enclosure of height H and length L wherein an artificial salinity gradient is created in order to suppress convective motions induced by solar radiation absorption and to stabilize the solar pond during the period of operation. Here we show the distribution of velocity, temperature and salt concentration fields during energy collection and storage in a solar pond filled with water and constituted by three different salinity zones. The bottom of the pond is blackened and the free-surface is subjected to heat losses by convection, evaporation and radiation while the vertical walls are adiabatic and impermeable. The governing equations of continuity, momentum, thermal energy and mass transfer are discretized by finite–volume method in transient regime. Velocity vector fields show the presence of thin convective cells in the upper convective zone (UCZ) and large convective cells in the lower convective zone (LCZ). This study shows the importance of buoyancy ratio in the decrease of temperature in the UCZ and in the preservation of high temperature in the LCZ. It shows also the importance of the thickness of Non-Convective Zone (NCZ) in the reduction of the upwards heat losses.

Suggested Citation

  • Ridha Boudhiaf & Ali Ben Moussa & Mounir Baccar, 2012. "A Two-Dimensional Numerical Study of Hydrodynamic, Heat and Mass Transfer and Stability in a Salt Gradient Solar Pond," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(10), pages 1-22, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:5:y:2012:i:10:p:3986-4007:d:20774
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kurt, Hüseyin & Ozkaymak, Mehmet & Binark, A. Korhan, 2006. "Experimental and numerical analysis of sodium-carbonate salt gradient solar-pond performance under simulated solar-radiation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(4), pages 324-342, April.
    2. Husain, M. & Patil, P.S. & Patil, S.R. & Samdarshi, S.K., 2003. "Computer simulation of salt gradient solar pond’s thermal behaviour," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 769-802.
    3. Ould Dah, M.M. & Ouni, M. & Guizani, A. & Belghith, A., 2010. "The influence of the heat extraction mode on the performance and stability of a mini solar pond," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(10), pages 3005-3010, October.
    4. Kaushik, N.D. & Bansal, P.K. & Sodha, M.S., 1980. "Partitioned solar pond collector/storage system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 7(1-3), pages 169-190, November.
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    1. Suárez, Francisco & Ruskowitz, Jeffrey A. & Childress, Amy E. & Tyler, Scott W., 2014. "Understanding the expected performance of large-scale solar ponds from laboratory-scale observations and numerical modeling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 1-10.
    2. Ahmad Saleh, 2022. "Modeling and Performance Analysis of a Solar Pond Integrated with an Absorption Cooling System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-26, November.

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