Computer Simulation of the Performances of Solar Ponds in Iran (RESEARCH NOTE).

The Rab1-Nielsen formulas are used to make predictions for solar pond operations for four locations situated in different solar insulation zones in Iran. The inputs to the computer program for determining the temperature variation at the bottom of the pond are the total insulation (corrected for cloudiness). ambient temperature, insolating layer thickness, convection layer thickness and load. The mean, the amplitude of the varying part, and the phase of the temperature at the bottom is the output of the program. The computer simulations show that solar ponds may be promising as solar collectors for space heating in most parts of Iran.