Numerical analysis to enhance thermal stratification in a baffle storage tank.

The study is concentrate on the numerical investigation of water thermal stratification in the discharge mode storage tank. The high efficiency of thermal stratification can significantly increase the overall performance of solar heating system. The proportion of the water tank in this study is of a dimensions 0.4, 0.4 and 0.8 meters. The aim of the present study is for increasing the stratification efficiency by inserting different baffle shapes in the tank bottom near the cold flow inlet. It is quantitatively analyzed at a 60°C starting temperature, a 20°C input temperature, and flow rates of (8 l/min). The inlets included a flat, inclined, and curved baffle. The purpose of the baffles is for reducing turbulence mixing to enhance the thermal stratification efficiency. Fluent 14.0, a three-dimensional (3D) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation tool, was used to expose the unique concepts based on factual-world operating conditions and storage tank design. Other mixing and stratification evaluation methods were used to determine the degree of stratification, such as the stratified and Richardson numbers. The results show that the shape and location of the baffle increases Richardson's and Stratification's Number compared with standard storage tank type, and the best stratification efficiency is in the A1 tank by around 48%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]