This paper investigates the generation of convective layers on sidewalls of
a solar pond with fertilizer salts. The fertilizer salts used in the pond
are urea, potassium nitrate (KNO3), mono ammonium phosphate (MAP) and mono
potassium phosphate (MKP). Furthermore, the paper reports the effects of th
e surface roughness heights of the wall, on the growth of the generated con
vective layers and the stability of the solar pond. It was found that urea
and potassium nitrate tend to have the least active generated convective la
yers in the 90 degrees and 30 degrees tanks when compared with the other sa
lts investigated, while mono ammonium phosphate resulted in less activities
for the layers generated in the vertical tank. The mono potassium phosphat
e showed less activity for the convective layers in the 60 degrees tank. Th
e addition of surface roughness to the inclined wall reduced the growth of
the convective layers by as much as 55.6% as the height of the surface roug
hness was increased. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd All rights reserved.