Solar ponds—a mini review

A solar pond is a simple system that collects and stores heat for thermal and electrical applications. Heat storage and heat extraction are the key factors in the solar pond. Salt is added to the pond with fresh water to form a salinity gradient solar pond (SGSP). The solar pond comprises of three zones, namely, the upper convective zone (UCZ), the non-convective zone (NCZ) and the lower convective zone (LCZ). The LCZ is also called the storage zone. Generally, the LCZ stores the heat energy of the incoming solar radiation, and this heat may be used for various applications. In this paper, a review is done on the study of solar ponds with various designs and modifications, heating methods, use of floating devices, use of baffle plates, use of heat exchangers, use of flat plate collectors, use of different types of insulation, etc.