Solar Ponds

Maya Braun (Israel)Adam Lipecz (Hungary)Samuel Nel·lo Deakin (Spain)

Featuring:The Zebra Layer

What is a solar pond?What is a solar pond?

A pool of saltwater which acts as a large-scale solar thermal energy collector

It includes an integral heat storage for supplying thermal energy

How do solar ponds produce How do solar ponds produce electricityelectricity

The fluid inside the pipes turns into

steam

The fluid inside the pipes turns into

steam

The steam moves the turbine

The steam moves the turbine

The turbine produces electricity

The turbine produces electricity

The water in the lowest layer heats up

to ≈90°C

The water in the lowest layer heats up

to ≈90°C

Essential requirements Essential requirements for a solar pondfor a solar pond

Space Water

SunSalt

Energy ComparisonEnergy Comparison

Energy Source Generating Cost (Euro per kWh)

Range of Power

Oil 0.25 1kW-10MWCoal 0.03 1MW-1GWGas 0.03 1MW-1GWSolar PV 0.80 10W-10MWWind 0.07 100W-100MWBiomass 0.04 1kW-150MWSolar Pond 0.133 1kW-5MW (unlimited)

Advantages

Environment friendly energy – no pollution!

Reliable energy source

Stores heat, so it can be used 24/7/365

Can be constructed according to

requirements

Low maintenance costs

Disadvantages

Localized

Low efficiency

Space availability

Salt and water supply

Low efficiency due to:

o Heat losses

o Bottom losses

o Top losses

o Radiation losses

EfficiencyEfficiency

Our Solution Is…Our Solution Is…

Improving the efficiency!Improving the efficiency!Decreasing the heat losses (bottom & sides)Decreasing the heat losses (bottom & sides)

The Zebra Layer®The Zebra Layer®All In One solution

Insulation + heat exchanging pipes

People can easily and fast build new Solar pondsJust lay down the foilCreate the salinity gradientYour Solar pond is ready to use!

Really cheap

ConclusionsConclusions

We hope and believe that solar ponds have the potential to become an important source of energy in certain areas, and that the zebra

layer will improve their functioning.

Reasons of solar ponds failure

Our “zebra layer” solar pond

Complicated installation Easy to buildNot efficient enough (only 17%)

MORE EFFICIENT!!!