NON CONVENTIONAL ENERGY RESOURCES

ASSIGNMENT - I

SUBMITTED BY: AKHIL DABRAL (B.TECH (CS), SEM-VIII, SEC-A)

DATE: 2/17/2012

SOLAR POND
ABOUT SOLAR POND:
A solar pond is a pool of saltwater which acts as a large-scale solar thermal energy collector with integral heat storage for supplying thermal energy. A solar pond can be used for various applications, such as process heating, desalination, refrigeration, drying and solar power generation. Solar pond collects and stores solar thermal energy. The layers of salt solutions increase in concentration with depth. There are three layers of water in pond: The top layer, which has low salt content. An intermediate insulating layer with a salt gradient. The bottom layer, which has a high salt content. When solar energy is absorbed in the water, its temperature increases causing thermal expansion and reduced density. The temperature gradient alone causes a density gradient that decreases with depth. However, the salinity gradient forms a density gradient that increases with depth and this counteracts the temperature gradient, thus preventing heat in the lower layers from moving upward by convection and leaving the pond. The temperature at bottom layer is around 90 C and the temperature at the top layer is around 30 C. the best example of solar pond is solar lake in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt.

ADVANTAGES:
No need of a separate collector for this thermal storage system. This approach is good for rural areas in developing countries. Very large area collectors can be set up for just the cost of the clay or plastic pond liner.

DISADVANTAGES:
The evaporated surface water need to be replenished. Maintenance expenses.

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SOLAR WATER DISINFECTION OR DESALINATION (SODIS)

ABOUT SODIS:
Water disinfection means the removal, deactivation or killing of pathogenic microorganisms. Microorganisms are destroyed or deactivated resulting in termination of growth and reproduction. When microorganisms are not removed from drinking water then it will cause people to fall ill. There are various techniques for water disinfection. One of the most popular technique is solar water disinfection (SODIS). Solar water disinfection (SODIS) is a low-technology, simple process of purifying water using the power of the suns ultraviolet rays and solar radiation. SODIS technology was first introduced in 1980. The method for SODIS involves clear PET (polyethyleneteraphtalate) bottles and a location that is exposed to the sun, most commonly the roof of a residence. The size of the bottles should be 2 liters or less, and the water is filled in the bottles to leave 2.5 cm of space in order to permit enough oxygen for the process, and then shake the bottle of water to fully oxygenate the water. The process involves exposure to the UV-rays and temperature, the higher the temperature the faster will be the disinfection process. If it is sunny or up to 50% cloudy, the water is disinfected in 6 hours of exposure and if it is 100% cloudy then the bottles need to be exposed for 2 days. If water temperature goes above 50 C, the disinfection process is complete in 1 hour. After this time period, the water is disinfected and ready to drink. These simple calculations of sunlight and temperature make this method of water purification very accessible. SODIS kills many water borne pathogens including bacteria, viruses etc. These pathogens are related to many health issues including cholera, typhus, diarrhea, polio, hepatitis, stomach cramps, and fever. Most likely, UVA-rays kill these pathogens most by damaging the respiratory system through radiation, but this is still in question. Because the UVA-rays play such a vital role in disinfection, the
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process happens even when the temperature is cool. The process is ineffective during periods of heavy rainfall and many recommend rainwater harvest and filtration. It is important that the water is relatively clear in order for the rays to penetrate and disable the functions of the pathogens. Waters of higher turbidity must be filtered before SODIS treatment to ensure proper purification.

How does it work?

ADVANTAGES: Easy to use.

Inexpensive Good bacterial and viral disinfection No dangerous chemical.

DISADVANTAGES:
Need supply of bottles. Not effective in rainy seasons. This process is very complex. Required maintenance.

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SOLAR COOKER
ABOUT SOLAR COOKER :
A solar cooker, or solar oven, is a device which uses the energy of sunlight to heat food or drink to cook it or sterilize it. Solar cooking is using the sun to cook food. It is a simple, safe, and convenient way to cook without consuming fuel. Solar cooking can help alleviate the burden on more than 3 billion people who must walk for miles to collect wood or spend their meager income on fuel. Solar cookers can bake, braise, stew and fry food. The 3 most common solar cooker designs are parabolic, box and panel cookers.

(1) Parabolic Cooker: The suns rays are captured in a reflector which focuses them at a point under a pot. The effect is like a stove top burner or a campfire. Temperatures can reach above 400 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to fry food. (2) Box Cooker: The suns rays are received in an insulated black box with a transparent lid which lets in the suns rays. Inside the box, this sunshine turns to heat which is trapped in the box. The effect is similar to the oven in your kitchen. Temperatures can reach around 300 degrees Fahrenheit. (3) Panel Cooker: A combination of the two systems which is portable and less expensive. Temperatures can reach around 250 degrees Fahrenheit. (This is ample because cooking begins at around 180 degrees Fahrenheit.)

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 ADVANTAGES:
Solar cookers use no fuel, which means that their users do not need to fetch or pay for firewood, gas, electricity, or other fuels. Solar box cookers attain temperatures of up to about 165 deg. C (325 deg. F), so they can be used to sterilize water or prepare most foods that can be made in a conventional oven or stove, from baked bread to steamed vegetables to roasted meat. Solar cookers do not produce any smoke as a product of combustion. Unlike cooking over an open fire, children cannot be burned by touching many types of solar cookers, which are made from cardboard or plastic and do not get hot. Unlike all fuel-based cooking arrangements, these solar cookers are not fire hazards.

DISADVANTAGES:
Solar cookers are less usable in cloudy weather and at high latitudes, so some fuel-based backup heat source must still be available in these conditions. Many solar cookers take longer time to cook food than a fuel-based oven. Using these solar cookers therefore requires that food preparation be started several hours before the meal. Some solar cooker designs are affected by strong winds, which can slow the cooking process, cool the food, and disturb the reflector.

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