Thermal behavior of laboratory models of honeycomb-covered solar pondsLaboratory experiments were conducted to provide insight into the technical feasibility of honeycomb-covered solar ponds. Cooling tests using honeycomb panels of various materials and geometries showed that a 5.7-cm-thick one-tier panel insulated as effectively as a 10-cm fiberglass slab. Heating tests demonstrated that a model pond covered with a polycarbonate panel boiled upon 16 hours of continuous exposure to a 150-W spotlight. Analysis of the experimental data indicates positively that honeycomb-covered solar ponds can be expected to perform satisfactorily, and that larger-scale outdoor tests should be conducted to provide a more realistic assessment and a more refined performance estimate.
Document ID
19830055832
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Lin, E. I. H. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA, United States)