Study of temperature and salinity profiles development of solar pond in laboratory Original Research Article

An experimental study on the evolution of the temperature and salinity profiles in a salinity gradient solar pond was executed using a small model pond. The body of the simulated pond is a cylindrical plastic tank, with 1 m height, 0.9 m diameter. The tank was insulated by 150 mm of polyurethane. The salinity gradient was established in the laboratory tank by using the salinity redistribution technique The base of the tank is black painted. Solar radiation was simulated by a 2000 W light projector that presents a spectrum similar to the solar one. The measurements were taken during a period of 29 days of experimentation. This period of time allowed to show the existence of salt diffusion from the storage zone to the surface. The temperature profile was established in the small model pond after 5 days of heating. The maximum temperature attained in the storage zone was 45°C carrying out a difference in temperature between the bottom and the surface of the pond of 23°C when the projector is put of and 17°C when it is put on.