Power Production and Air Conditioning by Solar Ponds
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 111, Issue 1
Abstract
The potential of a salt‐gradient solar pond for electric power production and thermal energy supply for cooling, using absorption chillers, and heating of a building was investigated by means of computer simulations. The analysis was conducted for the pond and building of the Energy Systems Center (ESC) located in southern Nevada. The experimental pond has a bottom area of about and 3‐m depth. The energy requirement for cooling and heating of the ESC two‐story building was calculated using the TRNSYS model and the ESC facility data. Power production from the pond was evaluated for a solar pond power plant with a low temperature Organic Rankin Cycle (ORC) generator. Several operating strategies were simulated using the salt‐gradient solar pond (SGSP) model. The results indicate that the pond can produce 16.8 kWe for 10 h/day, sufficient for ESC cooling demands. Using a pond absorption chiller system for cooling, 27% of the energy available from the pond will meet the cooling and heating demands of the building.
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References
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Golding, P., “The Applications of Saline Solar Ponds,” Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 1984.
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Lin, E. I. H., et al., “Regional Applicability and Potential of Salt‐Gradient So‐lar Ponds in the United States,” JPL Publication 82‐10, Vol. I and II, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1982.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 111 • Issue 1 • September 1985
Pages: 21 - 28
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 ASCE.
History
Published online: Sep 1, 1985
Published in print: Sep 1985
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