Abstract
Reverse absorber type shallow solar ponds are proposed as being capable of attaining higher temperatures and still higher efficiencies than the conventional type due to convection suppression and elimination of top radiative losses. The theoretical thermal analysis and simulation of the performance of two configurations of the reverse absorber shallow solar pond (RASSP); one with the top insulated and the other with top exposed, are presented. The ensuing model equations were solved to obtain the desired performance parameters. For a pond depth of 0.10 m, results of the simulations show that water temperatures up to 70°C could be obtained in a RASSP with double glass covers, higher than could be gotten in either an RASSP with top insulation or a conventional SSP of equal depth. The effect of pond depth on the proportions of the radiation incident on the RASSP that is either collected as thermal energy or lost was studied. The average transmissivity-absorptivity products, (τα), overall heat loss coefficients, UL and optimal pond depths were also computed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Tiwari, G.N. and Singh, A.K., Thermal Efficiency of Collection-Cum-Storage Solar Water Heater, Energy Convers. Manag., 1993, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 147–152.
Clark, A.F. and Dickinson, W.C., Shallow Solar Ponds, in Solar Energy Technology Handbook, Dickinson, W.C. and Cheremisinoff, P.N., Eds., New York: Marcel Dekker, 1980, pp. 377–402.
Madhusudan, M., Tiwari, G.N., and Seghal, H.K., Energy Convers. Manag., 1983, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 107–111.
Madhusudan, M., Tiwari, G.N., Hrishikeshan, D.S., and Sehgal, H.K., Optimization of Heat Losses in Normal and Reverse Flat-Plate Collector Configurations: Analysis and Performance, Energy Convers. Manag., 1981, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 191–198.
Goyal, R.K. and Tiwari, G.N., Energy Convers. Manag., 1999, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 385–392.
Jain, D., J. Food Eng., 2007, vol. 78, pp. 637–647.
Tiwari, G.N., Yadav, Y.P., Eames, P.C.., and Norton, B., Renew. Energy, 1994, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 509–516.
Harmim, A., Boukar, M., and Amar, M., Solar Energy, 2008, vol. 82, pp. 287–289.
Chandra, R., Goel, V.K., and Raychaudhuri, B.C., Energy Convers. Manag., 1983, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 177–184.
Sodha, M.S., Tiwari, G.N., and Nayak, J.K., Energy Convers. Manag., 1981, vol. 21, pp. 137–139.
Njoku, H.O., Ekechukwu, O.V., and Odukwe, A.O., Int. J. Sustainable Energy, 2009, vol. 28, pp. 203–215.
Duffie, J.A. and Beckman, W.A., Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1980.
Holman, J.P., Heat Transfer, McGraw Hill, 1997.
Hollands, K.G.T., Raithby, G.D., and Konicek, L., Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 1975, vol. 18, pp. 879–884.
Martynenko, O.G. and Kramtsov, P.P., Springer, 2005.
Klein, S.A., EES: Engineering Equation Solver. F-Chart Software, 2007, Available from:http://www.fchart.com
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The article is published in the original.
About this article
Cite this article
Njoku, H.O., Ekechukwu, O.V. Thermal performance modeling of the reverse absorber shallow solar pond. Appl. Sol. Energy 47, 213–220 (2011). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X11030145
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X11030145