Thermal field in a water body for solar energy storage and extraction due to a buoyant two-dimensional surface water jet

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Solar Energy; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(89)90024-8· OSTI ID:5164377

Jaluria, Y; O'Mara, B T ^[1]

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1. Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ (USA)

An experimental study on the thermal field arising in an enclosed water body being employed for energy storage, as sensible heat, due to a horizontally discharged, heated, water jet is carried out. Two-dimensional surface discharges are considered, with an outflow located at the far end of a water body, which is simulated in the laboratory by a tank of rectangular cross section. Energy loss occurs ant the sides and at the top of the water body largely by convective transport and at the bottom by conduction to the ground. The study initially considers the transient behavior of the water body due to the input of thermal energy. A rapid transient, followed by a very gradual variation to an essentially steady-state temperature distribution, is observed. Experimental results are obtained in this steady regime for a water body of large extent, simulated by allowing a gradual outflow far from the inflow. The effects of the inflow conditions, aspect ratio, and the position of the outflow on the resulting thermal stratification are then studied in detail. Several interesting trends are observed and related to the basic mechanisms that arise in such energy storage systems. These flows are of interest in the storage and the extraction of energy, as sensible heat, in systems such as salt-gradient solar ponds. The thermal field is important in the design of such storage systems, particularly with respect to the selection of inlet conditions and the location of the outflow.

• OSTI ID: 5164377
• Journal Information: Solar Energy; (USA), Vol. 43:3; ISSN 0038-092X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SENSIBLE HEAT STORAGE
THERMAL ANALYSIS
DESIGN
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
SIMULATION
SOLAR PONDS
WATER
DATA
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
HEAT STORAGE
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PONDS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
STORAGE
SURFACE WATERS
142000* - Solar Energy- Heat Storage- (1980-)