Heat exchangers for solar pond applications

Abstract

The use of solar energy for supplying heat to industrial processes is a very interesting possibility in countries having high solar energy resources. Solar ponds are collectors and accumulators that have been used as reliable sources of process heat. Transient thermal models can help in selecting suitable heat exchangers and operating conditions for ponds. Matching the energy requirements of a steady state process to the dynamics of an essentially transient energy collecting device as a solar pond is key to the economic feasibility of a process using this kind of energy source. A thermal model is used here for describing the thermal dynamics of solar ponds and for choosing heat exchangers and operating conditions for supply of process heat to a particular industrial process in northern Chile. It is found that solar ponds can supply the required heat to the process for nearly half the operating time, but the thermal efficiency of their use is low when strict process requirements are to be met.