Maintenance strategy for a salt gradient solar pond coupled with an evaporation pond

In a previous study, the authors presented a simple mathematical model for predicting the ratio of the evaporation pond area to that of a salt gradient solar pond area. The evaporation pond idea provides a very attractive method of salt recycling by evaporation, especially in areas of high evaporation and low rates of rain as it is the case for North Africa. In this paper, the model was elaborated upon and applied to two types of surface water flushing (fresh water and seawater) under the prevailing conditions of Tripoli, Libya (latitude = 32.86degreesN). All the results presented were predicted for the first three years of operation. The daily variations of brine concentration in the of Tajoura's Experimental Solar pond and those based on different designs were predicted and discussed under different scenarios. The quantities of brine provided by the evaporation pond and that required by were predicted for both cases of surface water flushing (fresh water and seawater) under the different design conditions. It was predicted that the can provide 20-40% during the first year and 45-95% during the third year depending on the design selected. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.