An Experimental Study to Develop a Suitable Polymer to Float Over Fresh Water for Energy Collection and Storage

Abstract

Solar gel is an alternate solar pond technology which overcomes the shortcomings of a conventional salt-gradient solar pond. In this study, experimental results on the development of a suitable gel for the gel pond application are presented. The research is focused on developing a gel which can float on fresh water and to study ways of eliminating bubbles in a gel. A careful review of literature revealed many potential monomers, cross linking agents, catalysts, inhibitors and solvents which can be tested for making a gel. It can be concluded that a gel made with polyacrylamide polymers and an aqueous methanol solution (7% or more by volume) as a solvent can float on fresh water. Copyright © 1989, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC