Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Inlet Design on Thermal Storage Tank Performance Using COMSOL Multiphysics®

W. Yaïci[1], M. Ghorab[1], E. Entchev[1]
[1]Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Publié en 2013

This study presented the results of 3D unsteady CFD simulations to investigate the influence of adding a flat baffle plate at the entrance during the discharging operation on the flow behaviour, thermal stratification, and performance of a hot water storage tank installed in solar thermal energy systems. The CFD results showed that the plate modified the flow field close to the inlet jet, allowing stratification enhancement, compared to a tank without plate or a tank with side wall ports near the tank bottom/top surfaces. The 3D COMSOL Multiphysics CFD model may serve as a valuable design tool for future optimization of solar thermally stratified energy storage tanks.

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