Numerical study for estimation of temperature distribution in solar pond in diverse climatic conditions for all cities of Turkey

Abstract

In this study, a numerical investigation for the solar ponds temperature distribution in Turkey was conducted and is compared with the experimental data for a particular district. For this, a prototype salinity-gradient solar pond with square cross-section with insulated wall and with seven layers was modeled by considering previously conducted experimental studies, and then, numerical method was conducted by using Finite Element Method with a commercial software COMSOL. Temperature and solar radiation data were taken from General Directorate of Meteorology where they have been measured since 1927. Numerical calculation was performed by taking annual average values of temperature and solar radiation data. The model includes all possibility to calculate temperature distribution of upper convective zone, non-convective zone, and the heat storage zone where radiative, conductive, and evaporative heat losses were taken into account. Numerical results indicate that during 720 hr of total simulation, maximum temperature was calculated at the end of 600 hr and then temperature remained constant. As the side wall and base were insulated with rock wool, a lot of heat loss was simulated at the top surface of the pond. According to the numerical study in 81 provinces, only one solar pond temperature remained under 300 K in Edirne and solar pond temperatures in five provinces remained under 310 K, and the solar pond temperature for 31 provinces were calculated higher than 320 K.