Dynamic exergetic performance assessment of an integrated solar pond

Abstract

In this paper, we present an experimental investigation of the exergetic performance of a solar pond integrated with solar collectors (with a surface area of 2096 m(2) and a depth of 2 m, and four flat-plate collectors with dimensions of 1.90 m. 0.90 m). A data acquisition device is used to measure and record the temperatures hourly at various locations in the pond. An exergy model is developed to study the dynamic exergetic performance of the solar pond integrated with solar collectors in terms of exergy efficiencies which are then compared with the corresponding energy efficiencies. Thus, the energy efficiencies are found to be 21.33%, 23.59%, 24.28% and 26.52%; the exergy efficiencies are found to be 20.02%, 21.66%, 22.24% and 23.84% for using 1, 2, 3 and 4 collectors, respectively. The energy efficiencies are compared with the corresponding exergy efficiencies.