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Title: Raft thermocline thermal storage

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6020462

A raft thermocline thermal storage system consists of an insulated platform floating between the hot and cold regions of a liquid in a storage tank. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the raft's stability and effectiveness in delivering thermal energy. Water was employed as the storage fluid. The effects of inlet orientation (side, tangential, or vertical), flow rate, and raft insulation were measured and compared with a natural thermocline. The raft thermocline's effectiveness in achieving a thermal separation of the fluid was measured, and the critical Richardson number was found to be significantly different from that of natural thermoclines. The raft thermocline's effectiveness was equal to or better than that of a natural thermocline at all flow conditions.

Research Organization:
Solar Energy Research Inst. (SERI), Golden, CO (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-77CH00178
OSTI ID:
6020462
Report Number(s):
SERI/TP-252-1969; CONF-830812-28; ON: DE83011962
Resource Relation:
Conference: 18. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Orlando, FL, USA, 21 Aug 1983; Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English