Flow and temperature distribution in a naturally stratified thermal storage tank. Final report

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:5504066

Wildin, M W; Sohn, C W

Thermal energy storage for building and process cooling is employed in two principal forms: sensible and latent. Each form has its advantages and disadvantages. Currently, water is the most frequently used storage medium for cooling, with the solid/liquid phase change being used for latent storage and chilled liquid water used for sensible storage. This report deals exclusively with sensible storage in water. Researchers studied the effects of mixing on the creation and maintenance of a thermocline during the charging of a thermal storage tank for cooling and the effects of momentum of inlet fluid and buoyancy due to temperature differences on the creation and maintenance of thermoclines. From the design point of view, the inlet parameters and their ranges for optimal performance of a stratified thermal storage tank have been more clearly delineated. The upper limit of the range of the Reynolds number for optimal stratified chilled water storage tank performance appears to be between 400 and 600. The upper limit of the densimetric Froude number range was determined in a previous study, and is about 2. Sensible storage, Thermal storage tank.

• Research Organization: Army Construction Engineering Research Lab., Champaign, IL (United States). Energy and Utilities Systems Div.
• OSTI ID: 5504066
• Report Number(s): AD-A-273511/6/XAB; USACERL-TR-FE--94/01
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250600* -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
PERFORMANCE TESTING
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
TESTING
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT