Investigating the simultaneous effect of effective parameters on the performance of salinity gradient solar ponds using Taguchi analysis: Determination of optimum thickness of the middle layer

Abstract

The performance of solar ponds is influenced by a number of factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the solar pond layers, as well as the climate conditions, on the temperature in the ponds bottom layer. Several analyzes were performed for this purpose employing the Taguchi method. The lower zone temperatures obtained were in a good agreement with the literature data, with an average deviation of 7.9%. The results showed that the thickness of the various layers of the solar pond, as well as the climate conditions, had a variety of effects on the operation of salinity gradient solar ponds. Furthermore, the optimum thickness of the solar pond’s middle layer was calculated to be 190 cm under various conditions. Finally, using the Taguchi analysis results, equations were presented to estimate the temperature of the solar pond’s lowest layer concerning the thickness of each the three layers in different climatic conditions. According to the findings of this study, the thickness of the upper layer of the solar pond had the least effect, while the thickness of the middle layer had the most effect on the maximum temperature and the annual average temperature of the lower layer.

Keywords

• Salt gradient solar pond
• Climatic conditions
• Optimum thickness
• Taguchi analysis