Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Saturated Solar Ponds: Modified Equations And Results Of A Laboratory Experiment, Markus Karl Rothmeyer

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

The diffusion equation for salt gradient solar ponds has been modified to include the Soret effect (a thermal cross-effect due to the temperature gradient). The contribution of the Soret effect to the diffusion flux of salt is shown to be on the order of 4% in the winter and 28% in the summer for the UNM NaCl solar pond. The traditional stability criterion for solar ponds remains practically unchanged by the Soret effect. However, the contribution of non-constant properties (diffusion coefficient, thermal diffusivity and viscosity)--which have been neglected so far--seems to be significant. Saturated solar ponds are described by a …