Curved Baffle for Thermal Stratification Enhancement in Tanks

What is it about?

The study investigates the effect of consumption rates on thermal stratification in a vertical solar storage tank with a conventional tank and two curved baffle models. The curved baffles significantly reduce mixing rates, enhancing thermal stratification efficiency by 43% and 15.6% in tanks with baffles B and A, respectively, at high consumption rates. At low consumption rates, a slight difference is observed between the models and the conventional tank. The study concludes that the curved baffles are effective in improving thermal stratification and storage efficiency in solar water heating systems.

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Why is it important?

The study of thermal stratification in solar energy storage tanks is crucial because it enhances the thermal efficiency of these systems. Improved stratification leads to better thermal storage, which is essential for maintaining temperature stability and optimizing energy utilization in solar applications. Understanding the behavior of water temperature inside the tank and the effect of various design elements, such as baffles, helps in developing more efficient and cost-effective thermal energy storage solutions. Key Takeaways: 1. Curved baffles significantly reduce mixing rates inside the tank at high consumption rates, resulting in better thermal stratification. 2. Tank B with curved baffles achieved a higher stratification number (0.95) compared to conventional tanks and other baffle designs. 3. The performance of baffle-equipped tanks at high consumption rates showed a 43% improvement in stratification efficiency for tank B and a 15.6% improvement for tank A compared to conventional tanks. 4. The study emphasizes the importance of thermal stratification in solar energy systems and the potential benefits of using curved baffles or other design elements to enhance this property.