Chapter 13

BASIC SOLAR POND MODELING

AND MATERIAL BALANCE TECHNIQUES

David S. Butts
Great Salt Lake Minerals
& Chemicals Corporation
Ogden, Utah

ABSTRACT
There are many solution mining operations that use solar ponds as a mineral recovery
step. Other locations in the world are now under investigation to recover minerals by solution
mining but require the cheap energy of solar ponds to make the recovery viable.
This paper shows a step-by-step material balance system that can be used in both simple
and complex solar ponds. Use of this system will help the engineer determine if solar ponding
efficiency can be improved or if solar ponding will work at all with a given set of conditions.
Even the most complicated solar pond can be reduced to six flow streams. These are (1)
feed, (2) exit, (3) leakage, (4) entrainment, (5) salts, and (6) evaporation. The equations developed
in this paper will allow the solar pond engineer to easily evaluate the effect of each of the flow
streams on the mineral production of a pond or pond complex.

SOLAR POND MODELING

INTRODUCTION

EVAPORATION

The h i g h c o s t of f o s s i l f u e l s o r t h e l a c k of i t
a l t o g e t h e r have caused many new e v a p o r i t e v e n t u r e s
t o i n v e s t i g a t e s o l a r energy.
One proven s o l a r energy a p p l i c a t i o n i s evapora t i o n of water from s o l a r ponds and numerous i n dustries a r e currently investigating projects that
r e q u i r e s o l a r ponds i n a m i n e r a l p r o c e s s i n g sequence. Many of t h e s e p r o j e c t s a r e q u i t e l a r g e .
Egypt i s i n v e s t i g a t i n g Lake Qarun, China i s dev e l o p i n g t h e Tsaidam B a s i n , J o r d a n and I s r a e l a r e
e x p l o i t i n g t h e Dead Sea, and C h i l e i s u s i n g t h e
sun a t t h e S a l a r d e Atacama. I n v e s t i g a t i o n s f o r
s o l a r ponding systems a r e a l s o b e i n g conducted a t
t h e S a l t o n Sea, ~ o l i v i a ' sAlto P l a n o , Botswana,
T u n i s i a , Saudia A r a b i a , I n d i a , Mexico and many
more.

FEED
BRINE

POND

I
BEGINNING
INVEWORY

SALT

LEAKAGE

INVQNTORY

SOLAR POND F L O W S T R E A M S

BACKGROUND

FIGURE I
I n 1965, 66 and 67, G r e a t S a l t Lake M i n e r a l s
and Chemicals C o r p o r a t i o n s p e n t c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e
and money t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e u s e of s o l a r ponds
t o s e p a r a t e m i n e r a l s and w a t e r from t h e p o t a s s i u m
s u l f a t e c o n t a i n e d i n t h e G r e a t S a l t Lake b r i n e .
E n g i n e e r s working on t h e p r o j e c t found t h a t t h e r e
was l i t t l e advanced technology a v a i l a b l e i n t h e
d e s i g n and o p e r a t i o n of a d o l a r pond system.
What technology was a v a i l a b l e was l i m i t e d t o prod u c t i o n of t h e r e l a t i v e l y s i m p l e sodium c h l o r i d e
c r y s t a l l i z a t i o n pond system and ocean b r i n e s .
More advanced technology had t o b e developed from
scratch.
T h i s paper d e a l s w i t h a s i m p l e step-by-step
pond modeling program t h a t l a t e r l e d t o much more
advanced technology and u n d e r s t a n d i n g of compl i c a t e d s o l a r pond systems such a s s e q u e n t i a l
pond t h e o r y .

'

BASICS
A l l s o l a r pond systems c a n b e d e s c r i b e d by t h e
model shown i n F i g u r e I . A b r i e f d e s c r i p t i o n of
each of t h e f l o w s t r e a m s shown i n t h e f i g u r e w i l l
be given t o f a m i l i a r i z e t h e reader with t h e terms
used and t o p r o v i d e some background. The f i g u r e
shows o n l y o n e pond. I n most systems t h e r e i s
more t h a n one pond and t h e e x i t b r i n e of one pond
becomes t h e f e e d b r i n e t o t h e n e x t . E v a p o r a t i o n
i s a f u n c t i o n of t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n of t h e beginn i n g and ending i n v e n t o r y , and of m e t e o r o l o g i c a l
c o n d i t i o n s . The s a l t d e p o s i t i s a f u n c t i o n of
b r i n e c o n c e n t r a t i o n , t e m p e r a t u r e and e v a p o r a t i o n .

Entrainment i s t h e b r i n e c a p t u r e d i n t h e v o i d s
between s a l t c r y s t a l s . A l l s a l t s h a v e a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c v o i d volume. Sodium c h l o r i d e h a s a 35%
v o i d volume f o r example.
Leakage is t h e l o s s of b r i n e t h r o u g h porous
d i k e s o r s e e p a g e down v e r t i c a l l y t h r o u g h t h e pond
f l o o r . A m a t e r i a l b a l a n c e around t h e pond system
must a l s o i n c l u d e changes of b r i n e volume ( i n v e n t o r y ) and changes i n c o n c e n t r a t i o n . Each of
t h e s e b a s i c p a r a m e t e r s wil!. 1.e d i s r u s s d i n t h e
develogm'e?t ofs.w-ojltiflp pond model.

There a r e a few assumptions t h a t w i l l b e made

h e r e w i t h o u t f o r m a l p r o o f , b u t which need a t l e a s t
some b r i e f e x p l a n a t i o n . One i s t h a t a t any g i v e n
t i m e , t h e e n t i r e pond c o n c e n t r a t i o n i s i d e n t i c a l t o
t h e e x i t b r i n e concentration. It is n o t t h e avera g e c o n c e n t r a t i o n of t h e f e e d b r i n e and e x i t b r i n e .
The o t h e r assumption i s t h a t t h e pond i s a t s t e a d y s t a t e having c o n s t a n t b r i n e d e p t h and c o n c e n t r a t i o n . T h i s assamption w i l l e l i m i n a t e t h e beginn i n g and ending i n v e n t o r y s t r e a m i n t h e model.
B e f o r e s e t t i n g up t h e model, each s t r e a m w i l l
b e b r i e f l y d i s c u s s e d i n more d e t a i l .
EVAPORATION
F i g u r e I1 shows some t y p i c a l l y shaped c u r v e s .
Each c o n c e n t r a t i o n h a s i t s own p a r t i c u l a r evapo r a t i o n r a t e . Once a p l o t of e v a p o r a t i o n c u r v e s
h a s been made, e q u a t i o n s can b e e s t a b l i s h e d f o r
u s e i n t h e pond model. F i g u r e 111, f o r example,
shows t h e e v a p o r a t i o n r a t e a s a f u n c t i o n of conc e n t r a t i o n f o r t h e month of J u l y . S i m i l a r l y , t h e
e v a p o r a t i o n r a t e e q u a t i o n s f o r a l l months of t h e
y e a r can b e e s t a b l i s h e d . The symbol "E" w i l l b e
used t o r e p r e s e n t e v a p o r a t i o n i n t h e model. Norm a l l y , t h e v a l u e of E can b e r e p r e s e n t e d by a
l i n e a r equation a s i l l u s t r a t e d .
The a c t u a l v a l u e s of E a t a s p e c i f i c l o c a t i o n
r e q u i r e c a r e f u l p l a n n i n g t o e s t a b l i s h . The met h o d s used t o d e f i n e e v a p o r a t i o n w i l l n o t b e exp l a i n e d i n t h i s paper e x c e p t t o s a y t h a t t i m e
( o v e r a y e a r ) , money, e x p e r i e n c e and some good
i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n a r e needed.
INVENTORY
The b e g i n n i n g and ending i n v e n t o r y of a pond
need t o b e c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e c r i t i c a l s t a r t up
phase of a pond system. The pond system a t G r e a t
S a l t Lake M i n e r a l s and Chemicals C o r p o r a t i o n r e q u i r e d 3 y e a r s t o b u i l d a working i n v e n t o r y of
b r i n e b e f o r e f u l l p r o d u c t i o n was r e a l i z e d . Af t e r
t h i s i n i t i a l s t a r t up phase i s o v e r and t h e

SALTS & BRINES '85

138

system i s s t e a d y - s t a t e , t h e i n v e n t o r y change i s
n e a r z e r o . I n t h e model developed i n t h i s p a p e r ,
s t e a d y s t a t e w i l l b e assumed.

ed t o make t h e r e q u i r e d e x i t b r i n e i s t h e n c a l c u l a t e d . T h i s newly c a l c u l a t e d f e e d b r i n e now becomes t h e e x i t b r i n e of t h e n e x t t o l a s t pond.

T h i s same c a l c u a t i o n i s made s t e p p i n g backwards t o
t h e n e x t pond i n s e r i e s u n t i l t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n
of t h e r e s e r v e b r i n e i s r e a c h e d . The mass of
b r i n e f e d t o t h e pond i s g i v e n t h e symbol Tn, and
t h e mass o u t i s shown a s T ( n + l ) .
SALT DEPOSITS

J F M A M J J A S O N D
T I M E O F YEAR
EVAPORATION RATE CURVES

FIGURE

I
l

The s a l t s d e p o s i t e d i n a pond system may b e

s i m p l e t o complex. The s i m p l i s t system i s a no
s a l t d e p o s i t . The f i r s t p h a s e of c o n c e n t r a t i n g
ocean b r i n e i s a n example where no s a l t s c r y s t a l l i z e . Many s o l a r pond s y s t e m s c r y s t a l l i z e o n l y
o n e m i n e r a l such a s h a l i t e o r s i l v i t e . S t i l l
o t h e r s c r y s t a l l i z e many mixed s a l t s . S a l t s prec i p i t a t i n g from c o n c e n t r a t e d G r e a t S a l t Lake
b r i n e i n c l u d e H a l i t e , Epsomite, M i r a b i l i t e ,
L e o n i t e , S c h o e n i t e , K a i n i t e , C a r n a l l i t e and
B i s c h o f i t e t o mention a few. Each s a l t must b e
i n c l u d e d i n t h e pond model. L e t Sn b e t h e symbol
f o r t h e s a l t tonnage d e p o s i t e d i n pond number N .
S u b s c r i p t s 1, 2, 3 , ---- r e p r e s e n t t h e s p e c i e s of
s a l t . Suppose a pond c r y s t a l l i z e d two s a l t s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . Then Snl would b e t h e tonnage of t h e
f i r s t and Sn2 i s t h e tonnage of t h e second.
ENTRAINMENT

GROSS EVAPORATION
FOR JULY

I
1.20 1.25
1.30
1.35
B R I N DENSITY (concentration 1

FIGURE

EXIT AND FEED BRINES

The c o n c e n t r a t i o n of e i t h e r t h e e x i t o r f e e d
b r i n e s w i l l a l m o s t a l w a y s b e known. The concent r a t i o n of t h e f e e d t o t h e f i r s t pond i s t h e r e s e m e b r i n e c o n c e n t r a t i o n such a s ocean b r i n e o r
w e l l b r i n e . By knowing t h e f e e d b r i n e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s , t h e e x i t b r i n e can be calculated. This
e x i t b r i n e now becomes t h e f e e d t o t h e second pond,
etc.
Sometimes i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o s t a r t w i t h t h e
l a s t pond of a system and work backwards. I n such
a c a s e , t h e end b r i n e c o n c e n t r a t i o n i s known o r
assumed. The c o n c e n t r a t i o n of t h e f e e d b r i n e need-

A s each of t h e s a l t s c r y s t a l l i z e , some of t h e
b r i n e i s c a p t u r e d t n t h e v o i d s p a c e between s a l t
c r y s t a l s . Each s a l t h a s i t s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c v o i d
volume. H a l i t e , f o r example, w i l l c a p t u r e a b o u t
35% v o i d . A d e p o s i t of c a r n a l l i t e may c o n t a i n
o v e r 50% v o i d . Some s a l t s c o n t a i n 90% v o i d . Of
course t h e void is f i l l e d ' w i t h brine. I n t h e
, m a t e r i a l b a l a n c e c a l c u a t i o n , t h e volume i s t r a n s l a t e d i n t o weight f r a c t i o n of b r i n e e n t r a i n e d i n
t h e d e p o s i t . I f a d e p o s i t c o n t a i n s 25% e n t r a i n ment, t h e n 100 pounds of d e p o s i t w i l l h a v e 25
pounds of b r i n e and 7 5 pounds of s a l t . The r a t i o
of b r i n e t o s a l t i n t h e d e p o s i t i s c a l l e d t h e
e n t r a i n m e n t f a c t o r . Thus, t h e e n t r a i n m e n t f a c t o r
i n t h e p r e c e d i n g example i s 25/75 o r .333. The
amount of b r i n e c a p t u r e d i n s a l t d e p o s i t Snl i s
( S n , ) ( I 1 ) , where I1 i s t h e e n t r a i n m e n t f a c t o r of
s a l t s p e c i e s 1.

LEAKAGE
A l l s o l a r ponds l e a k . I n some, l e a k a g e i s
n e g l i g i b l e , b u t i n o t h e r s i t may b e t o o h i g h t o
o p e r a t e a s o l a r pond system. A t i g h t pond i s o n e
t h a t would l o s e l e s s t h a n . O 1 i n c h p e r day l e v e l
from l e a k a g e a l o n e . R a t e s of .04 o r h i g h e r a r e
u s u a l l y c o n s i d e r e d i n t o l e r a b l e . The methods of
d e t e r m i n i n g l e a k a g e r a t e s from s o l a r ponds i s a
s c i e n c e of i t s own and w i l l n o t b e d i s c u s s e d f u r t h e r h e r e . Leakage must b e accounted f o r i n t h e
pond model, however. For i l l u s t r a t i o n , .02 i n c h
p e r day v a l u e w i l l b e u s e d . The symbol f o r l e a k a g e i s "L"

DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODEL

F i g u r e I shows t h e b a s i c p a r a m e t e r s of t h e
model. F i g u r e I V shows t h e n e x t s t e p i n expand-

SOLAR POND MODELING

i n g t h e model t o show a l l p o s s i b l e s t r e a m s and
t h e i r a s s o c i a t e d symbols and nomenclature.

EXIT STREAM
Component

The method of h a n d l i n g t h e model now depends on

what i s wanted. I n one c a s e a p r o j e c t e n g i n e e r
may want t o c a l c u l a t e t h e pond a r e a r e q u i r e d t o
produce a s p e c i f i e d tonnage of s a l t . I n a n o t h e r
c a s e , o n l y a s p e c i f i e d a r e a may b e a v a i l a b l e f o r
s o l a r ponding and t h e e n g i n e e r wants t o d e t e r m i n e
how much s a l t c a n b e produced from t h a t a r e a .

Sodium
Chlorine
Water

F i g u r e V shows a s i m p l e , b u t t y p i c a l c a s e of a
pond t h a t d e p o s i t s o n l y o n e s a l t . The pond i s
assumed t o b e a s t e a d y - s t a t e and t h e r e f o r e , t h e
i n v e n t o r y s t r e a m s a r e n o t shown. As a n example,
suppose i t i s d e s i r e d t o produce y t o n of sodium
c h l o r i d e from a pond system having t h e f o l l o w i n g
parameters:
FEED STREAM
Component

WeightIFraction

Sodium
Chlorine
Water

Symbol

0.0219
0.156
0.780

Leakage R a t e
Evaporation
Time P e r i o d

Cln
H202

= .02 i n c h e s p e r day

= . 2 i n c h p e r day
= 30 d a y s

An example of t h e pond model w i l l b e used t o

f i n d t h e a r e a r e q u i r e d t o make y t o n sodium c h l o r i d e o v e r t h e 30 day p e r i o d and t o f i n d how much end
b r i n e (T2) w i l l b e produced.

From F i g u r e V a m a t e r i a l b a l a n c e i s made. S i n c e
o n l y 3 p a r a m e t e r s a r e unknown, A, S and T2, t h e n
o n l y t h r e e e q u a t i o n s need b e s e t up.

Symbol

Mass Balance
T 1 = E + T 2 + S + S I + L

Na 1

0.0333
0.0856
0.869

TN

~eight/Fraction

c11

C h l o r i n e Balance
TICll = T2C12

H201

POND N

+ S(.607) +

SIC12

b T(N + I 1

WHERE:

A
E

=
=
=

N =
SN =

=
TN+I =
VON =
VIN =
TN

POND A R E A
EVAPORATION

ENTRAINMENT FACTOR
POND NUMBER

POND F E E D B R I N E

DISCHARGE BRINE

BEGINNING INVENTORY
F I N A L INVENTORY

SALT DEPOSIT OF SPECIES

A L L STREAMS ARE IN WEIGHT UNITS. NUMBERS REPRESENT SALT SPECIES

BASIC POND M O D E L

FIGURE

IP

L(C12)

SALTS & BRINES '85

Water Balance
(TI) (H201)= E +TL(~IZOZ)+SI(HZ~Z)+L(H~~Z)
But e v a p o r a t i o n = .2 i n c h l d a y and t o t a l w a t e r
e v a p o r a t e d from a r e a "A" o v e r 30 d a y s is (675) (A)
t o n s . Likewise, t h e t o n s l o s t t o l e a k a g e i s (83)
A. The e n t r a i n m e n t f a c t o r f o r NaCl i s .333. Assume f o r a b a s i s t h a t 100 t o n of f e e d i s t h e
weight of Tz. The t h r e e e q u a t i o n s now become:
Mass

100 = 675A+T2+S+S(.333)+83A

Chlorine

100(.0856)=~~(.156)+~(.607)+~(.333)
(.156)+838(.156)
Water

100(.869)=675~+~~(.78)+~(.333)(.78)

60.7
BASIS: TI c 100
UNKNOWNS ARE

Ole

CI

A,S and T p

+83A(. 78)

EXAMPLE OF A ONE SALT DEPOSIT

These e q u a t i o n s a r e s o l v e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y and
A = .0974 a c r e s

FIGURE

Tz= 16.7 t o n s end b r i n e

S = 7.12 t o n s sodium c h l o r i d e
TMe t o t a l a r e a needed t o make Y t o n s of s a l t i s
(A) x (YIS) = ( . 0 9 7 4 ) ( ~ / 7 . 1 2 ) a c r e s . ~ / i~s t h e
s c a l e up f a c t o r . The t o t a l t o n s of f e e d b r i n e
needed i s (100) (Yl7.12).
I f 2C;OOO t o n of s a l t i s t o b e made, t h e n a
274 a c r e pond w i l l b e needed. The pond f e e d
b r i n e tonnage w i l l b e 281,000 t o n and t h e end
b r i n e w i l l b e 46,910 t o n .
The model can now b e used f o r s e n s i t i v i t y
t e s t s and numerous s p e c i a l c a s e s . As a n example,
suppose t h a t t h e l e a k a g e i s z e r o . What w i l l b e
the effect?
I n t h e m a t e r i a l b a l a n c e e q u a t i o n l e t L = 0.
Solving t h e equation s e t :
A = .0975
T2 = 24.63
S = 7.15
Note t h a t t h e v a l u e of A and S i s t h e same
w i t h o r w i t h o u t l e a k a g e . Only t h e amount of end
b r i n e i s a f f e c t e d by l e a k a g e . I f end b r i n e i s des i r e d , t h e n l e a k a g e h a s a s i g n i f i c a n t impact on
p r o d u c t i o n . I f s a l t d e p o s i t is t h e o n l y concern,
t h e n l e a k a g e h a s l i t t l e impact. The no l e a k a g e
c a s e w i l l produce n e a r l y 50% more b r i n e .
MULTIPLE SALT DEPOSIT
I f i t i s expected t h a t more t h a n one s a l t
species w i l l be c r y s t a l l i z e d , then i t i s a simple
m a t t e r t o s e t up one more m a t e r i e l b a l a n c e equat i o n . Each a d d i t i o n a l s a l t s p e c i e s c r y s t a l l i z ing w i l l r e q u i r e one more e q u a t i o n . The e n t r a i n ment f a c t o r f o r each s p e c i e s should b e u s e d . I f
t h e f a c t o r s a r e n o t known, t h e n t h e y must b e est i m a t e d . Most f a c t o r s r u n between .3 and .5.
Use .4 i f no d a t a i s a v a i l a b l e . Some m i n e r a l s
such a s m i r a b i l i t e (Na2S0,. 10HzO) o r bischof f i t e
(MgClZ.6H2O) have h i g h f a c t o r s of 2 o r 3 .
The a c c u r a c y of t h e m a t e r i a l b a l a n c e e q u a t i o n
i s dependent on a c c u r a t e chemical a n a l y s i s of t h e

f e e d and end b r i n e s and o n t h e a c c u r a c y of t h e

e v a p o r a t i o n r a t e . Most b r i n e c o n s t i t u e n t s can b e
analyzed q u i t e accurately. I f a b r i n e c o n t a i n s
o n l y NaCl, t h e n o b v i o u s l y o n l y one s a l t c a n c r y s t a l l i z e . The m a t e r i a l b a l a n c e e q u a t i o n can b e based
on mass, w a t e r and sodium. I f a n o t h e r c o n s t i t u e n t
i s p r e s e n t , s a y SO4, t h e n a second s a l t may
c y r s t a l l i z e , Na2S04, and a n o t h e r e q u a t i o n can a l s o
b e w r i t t e n around t h e SO b a l a n c e . There w i l l a l 4
most always b e enough s e p a r a t e i o n s i n t h e b r i n e
, t o a l l o w f o r t h e r e q u i r e d number of m a t e r i a l b a l ance equations.
~ a - r must
e
b e t a k e n i n t h e assumption of t h e
s a l t s t h a t crystallized. This requires investigat i o n s of p h a s e c h e m i s t r y . Some bench s c a l e t e s t s
may b e n e c e s s a r y i f chemical p h a s e d a t a a r e n o t
a v a i l a b l e . Na SO may c r y s t a l l i z e i n s e v e r a l
p h a s e s . One miy h e t h e anhydrous form o r i t
could c r y s t a l l i z e a s G l a u b e r ' s S a l t ( m i r a b i l i t e ) ,
Na SO .10H20.
2 4
As t h e b r i n e s become more c o m p l i c a t e d , s o do
t h e p o s s i b l e combinations of s a l t d e p o s i t s . The
f i v e i o n system K, Na, Mg, SO4, and C 1 can
c r y s t a l l i z e 18 o r more d i f f e r e n t s a l t s , depending
on c o n c e n t r a t i o n s and t e m p e r a t u r e s . While t h e
a n a l y s i s of t h e b r i n e i s s t r a i g h t forward and r e l a t i v e l y easy, t h e s a l t a n a l y s i s is d i f f i c u l t

L e o n i t e (M~SOI,'KZSOI,'~HZ~)
and S c h o e n i t e
(MgS01,'KzS01,'6Hz0) a r e n e a r i m p o s s i b l e t o i d e n t i f y
from each o t h e r by i o n a n a l y s i s a l o n e . A m i x t u r e
of s i l v i t e and epomite (MgS04*7HzO) i s d i f f i c u l t t o
i d e n t i f y from a K a i n i t e s a l t (KC12MgS0,-4~20).
Many s t u d i e s have been made on b r i n e c h e m i s t r y and
u s u a l l y phase r e l a t i o n s c a n b e found i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e . I f n o t , t h e n bench o r f i e l d t e s t s must b e
made. X-ray def r a c t i o n , p e t r o g r a p h i c and micros c o p i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of e a c h s a l t s p e c i e s may b e
necessary.
BRINE CONCENTRATION PATH
Each b r i n e h a s i t s c h a r a c t i s t i c c o n c e n t r a t i o n
p a t h . T h i s p a t h must a l s o b e e s t a b l i s h e d b e f o r e
t h e pond model can b e f u l l y u s e d . The p a t h i s
n o t s u b j e c t t o c o n t r o l a t w i l l . The p a t h i s a

SOLAR POND MODELING

f u n c t i o n of t e m p e r a t u r e and f e e d b r i n e c o n c e n t r a t i o n . The c h e m i s t r y of t h e b r i n e a s i t e v a p o r a t e s
and c o n c e n t r a t e s can e a s i l y b e e v a l u a t e d i n t h e
laboratory i f proper precautions a r e taken.
F i g u r e V I shows a t y p i c a l c o n c e n t r a t i o n p a t h of
sodium c h l o r i d e i n G r e a t S a l t Lake b r i n e . The
e q u a t i o n f o r t h e l i n e can b e e s t a b l i s h e d and used
i n t h e pond model. The b e g i n n i n g b r i n e ( f e e d
b r i n e ) and t h e f i n a l b r i n e ( e x i t b r i n e ) must f a l l
on l i n e . One may e r r o n e o u s l y choose, s a y , P o i n t
A t o b e t h e f i n a l b r i n e c o n c e n t r a t i o n and f o r c e
t h e pond model t o comply w i t h a m a t e r i a l b a l a n c e .
The end r e s u l t s w i l l b e i n a c c u r a t e and m i s l e a d i n g .

SUMMARY

b
Use of t h e s t a p l e pond model d e s c r i b e d i n t h i s
paper c a n h e l p a n e n g i n e e r c r i t i q u e a proposed
system o r e v a l u a t e an e x i s t i n g one. Use of t h e
model w i l l l e a d t o o p t i m i z a t i o n of a pond system
and p r o v i d e t h e t o o l s n e c e s s a r y f o r s e n s i t i v i t y
a n a l y s i s . The model can b e used t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e
complexity of s o l a r ponding and a i d i n c o n t r o l of
a system a l r e a d y i n o p e r a t i o n . Once t h e model i s
used t o a i d a p r o j e c t e n g i n e e r t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e
b a s i c s of s o l a r ponding, more advanced models can
b e made t o i n c l u d e n o n - s t e a d y - s t a t e c o n d i t i o n s ,
ground b r i n e exchange phenomena and changing b r i n e
temperatures.
REFERENCES
l . B u t t s , David S . , Theory of S e q u e n t i a l Pond
Systems, P r e p r i n t No. 84-318, SME-AIME F a l l
Meeting, Oct. 24-26, 1984, Denver, Colorado.

EXIT B R I N E
CONCENTRATION

EVAPORATIO N O F BR l N E

NaCl CONCENTRATION PATH

FIGURE

PI

PRECAUTIONS I N USING THE MODEL

P r o p e r u s e of t h e model r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e f o l lowing b e known.

1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

Brine concentration path a s water i s

evaporated.
P o s s i b l e s a l t s p e c i e s t h a t may c r y s t a l l i z e (phase chemistry).
Leakage r a t e s .
Entrainment F a c t o r .
E v a p o r a t i o n r a t e s a s a f u n c t i o n of concentration.

Manipulation of t h e mozel can r e s u l t i n v a l u a b l e d e s i g n p a r a m e t e r s and u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e

s e n s i t i v i t y of s o l a r ponding t o i t s f l o w s t r e a m s .
Under s p e c i a l c o n d i t i o n s even e v a p o r a t i o n r a t e s ,
l e a k a g e r a t e s , and some b r i n e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s can
be calculated.
Leakage, e v a p o r a t i o n and e n t r a i n m e n t f a c t o r s
a r e d i f f i c u l t t o obtain. I f they a r e a l l e s t i mated, e r r o r s w i l l occur. These p a r a m e t e r s must
b e known t o a r r i v e a t v a l i d c o n c l u s i o n s .