2994 -- Initial Formation of a Thermocline in Stratified Thermal Storage Tanks PDF

Experiments were conducted on a scale model thermal storage tank to study the initial formation of the thermocline in a cold water tank and to identify the factors affecting thermocline formation. By means of flow visualization, a traveling density current was found to be the preferred dominant mechanism in formation of the thermocline. Also the inlet densimetric Froude number was found to be the governing parameter in formation of the thermocline. Inlet Froude numbers greater than about 2 caused significantly greater, differences between the temperature of the inlet fluid and the fluid in the tank on the inlet side of the thermocline. Some recommendations are made with respect to designing diffusers for stratification in thermal storage tanks.

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