Modified Entry System to Enhance the Performance of Stratified Solar Energy Storage
The IUP Journal of Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 23-34, May 2010
Posted: 11 May 2010
Date Written: May 7, 2010
Abstract
Thermal stratification in energy storage systems using water has been studied experimentally. The experiments were conducted on two tanks - one lined inside with rubber and the other lined with fiber glass - to study the effect of thermal conductivity of the lining material. The lining materials were so chosen that they are able to withstand the presence of water and are easy to fabricate. The experiments were carried out in both static and dynamic modes with the inlet of the hot water at the middle of the tank. A distribution system is used to avoid the mixing of hot and cold fluids at the time of entry. The nature of the thermal stratification and its dependence on temperature difference between hot and cold fluids, inlet location, flow rate, thermal conductivity of the interior lining material and the temperature variation in axial as well as radial directions were studied.
Keywords: Thermal stratification, Temperature, Storage, Solar energy, Conductivity
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