Science Fair Projects

Effect of Bottom Reflectivity on Solar Pond Performance

Abstract

The objective: My 2004 "Solar Energy Trap" project studied solar ponds as an energy collector and storage system combined. I effectively proved that by creating salinity gradient body of water we could store and reuse solar energy for our needs. One of the unanswered questions was the effect of bottom reflectivity on solar pond performance. My 2005 project experimentally investigates this subject. After researching, I hypothesize that decreased reflectivity of the bottom surface of the salinity gradient container will result in the greatest thermal storage efficiency.

Methods/Materials

Solar pond-like vertical salinity gradient was created in the container and exposed to halogen lamplight (sunlight simulator). High absorptive, medium absorptive and high reflective bottom cases were observed. Effects were evaluated by measuring and calculating difference in temperature between bottom and top layers of water as function of light exposure time.

Results

In the high absorptive case, the bottom temperature increased and exceeded top about 6 hours sooner than in the medium case and about 12 hours sooner than in the high reflective case. In the high reflective case bottom temperature never exceeded top.

Conclusions/Discussion

In the high absorptive case, the temperature increased more efficiently than in the medium and high reflective cases, indicating high thermal conversion efficiency for the first case. The data supported the hypothesis and findings agree with the information that is found in the literature and the El Paso Solar Pond research and development project results.

This project by creating high absorptive surface at bottom of solar pond-like environment, it was shown that the sunlight, a renewable energy source, could be more effectively converted into thermal energy and stored for future needs.

Science Fair Project done By Sarkis Bornazyan

 

Related Projects : Exploring Evaporation through Colors, Viscosity and Volcanoes, How Do Different Color Filters Affect the Energy of a Laser Beam, Effect of Bottom Reflectivity on Solar Pond Performance, Using Sound to Measure Temperature, How Temperature Affects a Magnet's Strength, The Effect of Shields on Beta Particles and Gamma Rays, What Do Lasers Go Through, Which Insulating Sportswear Fabric Will Make Me the Happiest Camper, How Does Sugar Density Affect the Index of Refraction of Water, Do Acoustic Tiles Really Block Sound, An Analysis of Black Hole Thermodynamics, Quantifying the Effect of Skyglow on the Visibility of Stars, The Most Efficient Automobile Sunshade, Measurement of True Noon Time Using the Sundial Principle

 

<<Back To Topics Page........................................................................................>> Next Topic

 

 

Copyright © sciencefairprojects.co.in 2013 through 2015