Natural thermal stratification in tanks, phase 1
Abstract
How solar system tanks fail to stratify, a solar system control strategy that allows stratification, a one-dimensional analytical model of thermally stratified tanks, experimental measurement of thermal stratification in tanks, correlation of experimental measurements with empirical constants in the analytical model, and a procedure for designing thermally stratified tanks are described. The control strategy allows tanks to stratify and reduces the average collector operating temperature by as much as 20 C. The result is up to 20% improvement in system performance. The analytical model and correlation of its empirical constants allow system designers to select from several alternatives the tank configuration that provides the best stratification.
- Publication:
-
Final Report Argonne National Lab
- Pub Date:
- 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982argo.rept.....C
- Keywords:
-
- Heat Storage;
- Solar Heating;
- Storage Tanks;
- Stratification;
- Thermoclines;
- Computer Programs;
- Fourier Law;
- Richardson Number;
- Solar Collectors;
- Water Temperature;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer