What is solar pond power generation?

Solar pond power generation involves utilizing the temperature difference between the hot bottom layers and the cooler surface layers of the solar pond to drive a heat engine or a thermodynamic cycle. This temperature difference is known as a “thermal gradient.”

How does a solar pond generate electricity?

The heat extracted from the solar pond is typically used to generate electricity. It is transferred to a heat exchanger, where it vaporizes a working fluid (such as a liquid with a low boiling point), driving a turbine to produce electricity. This process is known as a binary power cycle.

How a solar pond-integrated heating system works?

Figure 3.4 shows the schematic view of a solar pond-integrated heating system. For this purpose, a heat transfer fluid is circulated between the solar pond and the buildings. A heat exchanger in the building is used for extracting the heat obtained from the solar pond.

Can a solar pond be used as a heating system?

Solar ponds can be used in any heating applications directly by circulating the hot water from the lower convective zone of the pond through radiators, underfloor heating systems, or heat exchangers. Figure 3.4 shows the schematic view of a solar pond-integrated heating system.

How to improve solar pond efficiency?

Yaakob et al. (2011) also suggested enhancing the solar pond’s effectiveness by removing the hot brine from NCZ using an external thermosiphon heat exchanger. They discovered that the solar pond’s efficiency can be increased by up to 30%. Direct heat extraction method using an external heat exchanger (Leblanc et al., 2011)

How does a solar pond peaking plant work?

The heat storage capacity of the pond allows quick delivery of the stored energy when needed. Solar pond peaking plants can produce up to ten times as much power as their generated output power, an unheard of capability in thermal power technology. Since there is no boiler, they start up in just a few minutes.