Construction and operational experience of a 6000 m2 solar pond at Kutch, India

A 6000 m(2) solar pond was constructed at Bhuj in India in the premises of a milk processing daily plant to supply process heat and demonstrate the technical and economic viability of solar pond technology in the Indian context. An inexpensive lining scheme, consisting of alternating layers of clay and LDPE (low density polyethylene) combination was used for lining the pond. The pond attained a maximum temperature of 99.8 degrees C under stagnation in May 1991 but developed leakage soon after. A failure analysis that was carried out subsequently indicated that the leakage was caused by the combination of high stagnation temperature and large air pockets below the liner. The lining scheme was re-designed and the pond re-established in June 1993. Hot water supply to the dairy started in September 1993 and continued until April 1995. After an interruption of nearly one year, hot water was resumed in August 1996. The total cost of construction of the Bhuj Solar Pond was US$90000 (1997 prices), including heat exchanger and piping etc., corresponding to a unit cost of US$15 m(-2) (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.