Numerical Simulation And Experimental Study On The Formation Of Solar Ponds

In this paper, the formation theory of solar pond was studied based on the theory of double-diffusive convection.The functions of air temperature, soil temperature and brine parameters were given in Shouguang area, Shandong province. The theory of solar energy absorbed by brine was obtained, influence of turbidity and reflection from pond bottom on the thermal properties as well as the stability of brine pond were analyzed.On the basis of thermal properties analysis of salt water, physical model for the salt pond was set up. The governing equations were built for numerical simulation, initial boundary condition were given, the air temperature, solar radiation, the evaporation were simplified reasonably. The density gradient and temperature distribution of the salt water ponds were simulated by FLUENT. The results indicate that density gradient along the direction of the depth cannot be formed in salt water ponds with different concentration under solar radiation.The experimental equipment of salt water pond was built and the salt water with different concentrations was made. Data collection of brine temperature and concentration was carried out in different season. According to the analysis of experiment results for both indoor and outdoor ponds, the density gradient along the direction of the depth cannot be formed, which are consistent with the simulation results. After fresh water with 2 cm thickness is added on the brine surface, the concentration gradient was formed, thus the brine ponds turned into solar ponds. It takes long time for the stratified liquid achieves equilibrium by molecules diffusion if the interference from outside (the disturbance from wind to the surface) is neglected.The comparison of experiment and the numerical simulation was carried out in this paper, and the corresponding results of the distribution of brine temperature and concentration as well as influence of typical parameters were obtained.