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 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. BACKGROUND

EVAPORATION

FEED BRINE

POND

I
BEGINNING INVEWORY

LEAKAGE

SALT

INVQNTORY

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

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 . 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

'

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.

138

SALTS & BRINES '85

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 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

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.

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

GROSS EVAPORATION FOR JULY

I
1.20 12 .5 1.30 1.35 B R I N DENSITY (concentration 1

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.

FIGURE
EXIT A D FEED BRINES N

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"

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-

DEVELOPMENT O THE M D L F OE 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. 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 . 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 Sodium Chlorine Water EXIT STREAM Component Sodium Chlorine Water Leakage R a t e Evaporation Time P e r i o d

~eight/Fraction 0.0219 0.156 0.780

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

Symbol

Cln H202

= . 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. Mass Balance T 1 = E + T 2 + S + S I + L C h l o r i n e Balance TICll = T2C12

WeightIFraction 0.0333 0.0856 0.869

Symbol N 1 a

c11
H201

+ S(.607) +

SIC12

L(C12)

TN

POND N

b T(N + I 1

WHERE:

A E

= = =

POND A R E A
EVAPORATION

ENTRAINMENT FACTOR
POND NUMBER
SALT DEPOSIT OF SPECIES

N = SN =

= TN+I = VON = VIN =

TN

POND F E E D B R I N E

DISCHARGE BRINE

BEGINNING INVENTORY F I N A L INVENTORY

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

BASIC POND M O D E L

FIGURE

IP

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

60.7 BASIS: TI c 100 UNKNOWNS ARE

Ole

CI

100(.869)=675~+~~(.78)+~(.333)(.78)
+83A(. 78)

A,S and T p

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 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~ t h e s 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 b e t a k e n i n t h e assumption of t h e 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 S O 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 S .10H20. O 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

FIGURE

L e o n i t e (M~SOI,'KZSOI,'~HZ~) S c h o e n i t e and (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 . SM AY U MR

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 M D L OE 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 .