Full Description

There is a need to establish quantitative relationships between storage tank design parameters and expected thermal performance for tanks with single pipe diffusers, which are one of the two most commonly used types (the other being the radial type). The existing open literature and design guidance based upon it does not provide such a linkage. Performance expectations are currently stated in relative terms, such as "good" or "poor", that make it impossible to assess the value or risk associated with changes in design parameters.

This parametric study is based on simulations performed with a validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. Correlation between tank, diffuser, and flow parameters and inlet thermal performance will be determined by statistical experimental design techniques.

The objective of this research project is to correlate the inlet thermal performance of full-scale stratified chilled-water storage tanks with tank, diffuser and flow parameters by applying factorial experimental design methods to the results of computational fluid dynamic simulations. The scope of the project is limited primarily to charging by single pipe diffusers in cylindrical tanks.