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STUDY OF CHARGING OF STRATIFIED STORAGE TANKS WITH FINITE WALL THICKNESS
Author(s) -
Ghaddar N. K.,
AlMaarafie A. M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-114x(199704)21:5<411::aid-er262>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - mechanics , stratification (seeds) , inlet , thermal energy storage , diffuser (optics) , storage tank , engineering , thermodynamics , mechanical engineering , physics , seed dormancy , light source , botany , germination , optics , dormancy , biology
This paper presents a numerical and experimental study of finite wall thickness on stratification during charging of soar thermal storage tanks. A numerical two‐dimensional spectral‐element model has been used. Predictions of the model are compared with experimental data, and with a one‐dimensional plug flow model. The fluid inlet effect on the stratification is minimized in the experiments by the use of a proper diffuser design with a settling mesh. Both heat conduction in the tank wall and the developing flow in the tank have a significant effect on stratification during charging at low flow rates. The one‐dimensional plug flow model is shown to be inferior to the two‐dimensional model in representing the experimental data. Yet, a simple one‐dimensional flow model corrected for both centreline velocity and mixing effects has given comparable results to the more expensive two‐dimensional model. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Int. J. Energy Res., vol 21, 411–427 (1997).