Solar Pond Technology for Navy Applications.

Many of the Navy and Marine Corps bases have potential for thermal solar pond systems that can cost-effectively displace existing thermal and electrical loads. The salt-gradient solar pond offers a simple method of collecting solar insulation while providing its own storage medium for the energy collected. The economic attractiveness of a solar pond is enhanced by this feature however, the viability of a given application is dependent on site attributes and requirements. For the salt-gradient solar pond, site specific features such as solar radiation, siting area, type of load to be displaced, and availability of salt, clay, and water are important factors affecting the success of each application. An investigation of current salt-gradient solar pond technology was conducted and a preliminary technical and economic analysis was performed for a proposed application at the Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, California. Author