An investigation of double-glass-covered trapezoidal salt-gradient solar pond coupled with reflector

Enhancing energy efficiency in trapezoidal solar ponds: A synergistic approach utilizing east-west reflector and coal cinder – An energy analysis study

“…They found that the pond achieved a maximum energy efficiency of 3.27% without shading and 3.65% with shading. Furthermore, when comparing trapezoidal SGSP with cuboid SGSP by Dhindsa et al, 16 the investigation indicated that the average yearly ratio of sunny areas for the trapezoidal pond was 11% higher than that of a cuboid pond.…”

“…By aligning the reflector at an optimal angle, we aimed to maximize the direct solar radiation captured by the reflector surface throughout the day. The equation model proposed by Dhindsa et al 16 was used to calculate the optimum tilt angle of the reflector through trial and error for a particular day to harvest the maximum potential from the reflector towards the pond, as given below.where θ is the reflector tilt angle concerning the horizontal surface of the pond, α is the elevation angle, φ is the angle of latitude and, δd is the angle of declination.…”

“…A parametric study is essential in understanding the behavior and performance of a solar pond. 9 In the literature, several studies explore the parametric analysis of SGSP, examining aspects such as geometric shape and size, [10][11][12][13] shading area, [14][15][16] zone thickness, 17,18 and the type of salt employed. [19][20][21][22] One study 10 examined rectangular and circular SGSPs with similar cross-sections and volumes.…”

“…Some studies have concentrated on enhancing thermal performance, [23][24][25] while others have focused on minimizing evaporation losses. 16,[26][27][28][29] Additionally, certain research has explored the potential benefits of coupling sensible heat storage with latent heat storage, [30][31][32][33][34] and further investigations have aimed at improving the overall stability of the ponds. 4,12,35,36 Similarly, scientists have also studied the factors contributing to the decrease in efficiency of salt gradient solar ponds.…”

“…The analysis of three cases (without cover, with cover, and with reflector) demonstrated the effectiveness of these covers in reducing heat loss from the pond surface during the night and enhancing thermal performance during the day. In a different study, 16 the effects of using a reflective surface on SGSP performance were investigated through both numerical and experimental analyses. The findings revealed a remarkable 25% improvement in the SGSP’s performance when a reflective surface was employed.…”