Numerical Analysis of the Influence of Buoyancy Ratio and Dufour Parameter on Thermosolutal Convection in a Square Salt Gradient Solar Pond

Abstract

Revise the abstract as follows: This work aims to investigate numerically the influence of the buoyancy ratio and the Dufour parameter on thermosolutal convection in a square Salt Gradient Solar Pond (SGSP). The absorption of solar radiation by the saline water, the heat losses and the wind effects via the SGSP free surface are considered. The mathematical model is based on the Navier-Stokes equations used in synergy with the thermal energy equation. These equations are solved using the finite volume method and the Gauss algorithm. Velocity-pressure coupling is implemented through the SIMPLE algorithm. Simulations of the SGSP are performed for three values of buoyancy ratio (N = 1, 2 and 10), three values of Dufour parameter (Dƒ = 0, 0.2 and 0.8) and some sample meteorological data (Tangier, Morocco). Results show that the highest dimensionless temperature of the storage zone is found for N = 10. In the same zone and for the same value of N, the dimensionless salt concentration decreases very slightly versus time (unlike for N = 1 or 2). Moreover, increasing Df from 0 to 0.8 causes a decrease in the dimensionless temperature of the SGSP storage zone and this decrease is more pronounced for N = 1 and N = 2.