Salt-gradient solar ponds, liner

Salt-Gradient Solar Ponds and Their Liner Requirements... 

A salt-gradient solar pond was constructed in 1975 at the the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, Ohio ( ). The first liner, a chlorinated polyethylene liner, 50 mil in thickness, failed on filling of the pond. It was replaced by a second liner of the same material which failed two years later in 1977. The third liner, Shelter-Rite XR-5, has been in use since August 1977 and continues in service. 

The location of a sizable volume of salt brine in most areas presents a potential for serious contamination. Leakage of brine from a damaged liner can "poison" the soil and the ground water over a wide area, if not promptly repaired. Proper selection of the impermeable liner is essential to wide-spread use of salt gradient solar ponds. 

Salt gradient solar pond technology has largely been developed within the last five (5) years. Very few conmerclal installations exist even today, so that little comprehensive Information about flexible membrane liners has been developed. 

The Initial use of hypalon as a liner for a salt gradient solar pond came about strictly as an accident. 

The Future for Flexible Membrane Liners in Salt Gradient Solar Ponds... 

The use of an Impermeable flexible membrane liner will allow salt gradient solar ponds to be located near the energy user, by preventing salt contamination of the soil and ground water. 

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