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Investigation of Stratified Thermal Storage Tank Performance for Heating and Cooling Applications

Author

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  • Azharul Karim

    (Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane CBD, QLD 4001, Australia)

  • Ashley Burnett

    (Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane CBD, QLD 4001, Australia)

  • Sabrina Fawzia

    (Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane CBD, QLD 4001, Australia)

Abstract

A large amount of energy is consumed by heating and cooling systems to provide comfort conditions for commercial building occupants, which generally contribute to peak electricity demands. Thermal storage tanks in HVAC systems, which store heating/cooling energy in the off-peak period for use in the peak period, can be used to offset peak time energy demand. In this study, a theoretical investigation on stratified thermal storage systems is performed to determine the factors that significantly influence the thermal performance of these systems for both heating and cooling applications. Five fully-insulated storage tank geometries, using water as the storage medium, were simulated to determine the effects of water inlet velocity, tank aspect ratio and temperature difference between charging (inlet) and the tank water on mixing and thermocline formation. Results indicate that thermal stratification enhances with increased temperature difference, lower inlet velocities and higher aspect ratios. It was also found that mixing increased by 303% when the temperature difference between the tank and inlet water was reduced from 80 °C to 10 °C, while decreasing the aspect ratio from 3.8 to 1.0 increased mixing by 143%. On the other hand, increasing the inlet water velocity significantly increased the storage mixing. A new theoretical relationship between the inlet water velocity and thermocline formation has been developed. It was also found that inlet flow rates can be increased, without increasing the mixing, after the formation of the thermocline.

Suggested Citation

  • Azharul Karim & Ashley Burnett & Sabrina Fawzia, 2018. "Investigation of Stratified Thermal Storage Tank Performance for Heating and Cooling Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:5:p:1049-:d:143072
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Majedul Islam & Sarah Miller & Prasad Yarlagadda & Azharul Karim, 2017. "Investigation of the Effect of Physical and Optical Factors on the Optical Performance of a Parabolic Trough Collector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Bouhdjar, A. & Harhad, A., 2002. "Numerical analysis of transient mixed convection flow in storage tank: influence of fluid properties and aspect ratios on stratification," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 555-567.
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    3. Mahon, Harry & O'Connor, Dominic & Friedrich, Daniel & Hughes, Ben, 2022. "A review of thermal energy storage technologies for seasonal loops," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PC).
    4. Piyatida Trinuruk & Papangkorn Jenyongsak & Somchai Wongwises, 2022. "Comparative Study of Inlet Structure and Obstacle Plate Designs Affecting the Temperature Stratification Characteristics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-25, March.
    5. Rendall, Joseph & Abu-Heiba, Ahmad & Gluesenkamp, Kyle & Nawaz, Kashif & Worek, William & Elatar, Ahmed, 2021. "Nondimensional convection numbers modeling thermally stratified storage tanks: Richardson's number and hot-water tanks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    6. Muschick, D. & Zlabinger, S. & Moser, A. & Lichtenegger, K. & Gölles, M., 2022. "A multi-layer model of stratified thermal storage for MILP-based energy management systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    7. Klemen Sredenšek & Sebastijan Seme & Bojan Štumberger & Miralem Hadžiselimović & Amor Chowdhury & Zdravko Praunseis, 2021. "Experimental Validation of a Dynamic Photovoltaic/Thermal Collector Model in Combination with a Thermal Energy Storage Tank," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-21, December.
    8. Joong Yong Yi & Kyung Min Kim & Jongjun Lee & Mun Sei Oh, 2019. "Exergy Analysis for Utilizing Latent Energy of Thermal Energy Storage System in District Heating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, April.
    9. Kocijel, Lino & Mrzljak, Vedran & Glažar, Vladimir, 2020. "Numerical analysis of geometrical and process parameters influence on temperature stratification in a large volumetric heat storage tank," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    10. Wunvisa Tipasri & Amnart Suksri & Karthikeyan Velmurugan & Tanakorn Wongwuttanasatian, 2022. "Energy Management for an Air Conditioning System Using a Storage Device to Reduce the On-Peak Power Consumption," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-19, November.

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