Numerical Simulation On The Thermal Performance And Heat Extraction Of A Solar Pond

In this paper, the research mainly focused on the salt gradient solar pond. A reasonable numerical simulation is performed to study the thermal properties and heat extraction in the solar pond.The existence of salt gradient layer in solar pond is the primary cause for the pond to collect and store solar radiation with continuously and stably. The thermal performance of solar pond is largely depended on the stability of this layer. In this paper, considered the impact of the Soret effect, using a finite difference method to analyze the behavior of salt diffusion in solar pond. The result has shown that the Soret effect has a negative effect on maintenance of gradient. According to the geographical and climatic conditions in Dalian area, studied the distribution of salt concentration and temperature on the inclined wall solar pond. An annual change of thermal and salinity profiles was obtained, when the temperature gradient reached the maximum or minimum, the value of salt concentration reached the minimum or maximum.The ultimately aim of experimental and theoretical study on solar pond is delivering the solar energy from the pond to practical application. With the analysis of heat and mass flux transport differential equations, established a two-dimensional model of heat extraction on the solar pond. The model takes into account the effect of turbulent diffusion and molecular diffusion, as well as concentration, temperature and velocity field of the coupling, using a low Reynolds k-εmodel to simulate the changes of thermal and salinity profiles with heat extraction in summer and winter. The results show that, when keeping a constant value of concentration in upper and lower convection zone, heat extraction has a benefit to the stability of the solar pond.