Energy efficiency assessment of integrated and nonintegrated solar ponds

In this study, an experimental investigation of temperature distribution and efficiencies in conventional solar pond (SP) and integrated SP (ISP) systems is presented. Several temperature-measuring sensors connected to a data acquisition system are used to measure the temperature changes with respect to time and position. In addition, the monthly stored energies of SP and ISP are determined. The maximum and the minimum energy efficiencies of the SP and ISP are observed for the months of August as 28.41 and 33.55% and January as 8.28 and 9.48%, respectively. These then confirm that the SP storage efficiency can be increased by integrating the system with solar collectors. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press