Theoretical study of a new thermodynamic power cycle for thermal water pumping application and its prospects when coupled to a solar pond

•Proposed a new power cycle to drive a thermal water pump.•Examined the performance of an ideal thermal water pump based on new power cycle.•Examined the prospects of this thermal water pump coupled with solar pond.

This is an introductory theoretical work on the new thermodynamic power cycle for thermal water pumping. This paper describes the new thermodynamic power cycle with help of P–v and P–h curves and the operation of a thermal water pump based on this cycle with acetone as working fluid. Further ideal thermal performance of this water pump for different heat source and heat sink temperatures is discussed. The proposed thermal water pump has an ideal overall efficiency equal to about 40% of Carnot cycle efficiency for driving temperature difference of 60 °C with acetone as working fluid. This paper presents the ideal theoretical performance predictions of such thermal water pump coupled with a solar pond located on a salt farm at Pyramid Hill in north Victoria, Australia. Most salt farms around the world use electric pumps to draw saline water from ground or sea. The proposed thermal water pump can provide an alternative to these electric pumps.