3839 (RP-707) -- Modelling of the Melting Process of Ice Stores in Rectangular Thermal Energy Storage Tanks with Multiple Ice Openings PDF

A mathematical model and numerical algorithms for simulating the melting of saturated and unsaturated particulate ice stored in a rectangular storage tank is presented. The geometrical shape that is achieved by the ice particles in a closed-loop storage tank, using water in the tank, produced from an ice-maker above the tank uses the program ICEPAC, as reported in a companion paper. The melting behaviour of the particulate ice is modelled with the program MELTCONTROL. The program MSOLA is used to establish the computation grid and meltwater flow streamlines for use as input to the program MELTCONTROL. The program MELTCONTROL can be used to predict the total time for the ice to melt, the remaining quantity of ice, and the optimum meltwater inlet flow conditions. Comparative studies can be performed by modelling a range of parameters, such as establishing the differences between ice-opening inlet flows and fully distributed inlet flows and the resulting outlet water temperature. The software developed is operational with a 32-bit Fortran compiler on a personal computer. The numerical predictions are also compared to the results of laboratory-scale experiments, as reported elsewhere. The numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data.

KEYWORDS: year 1995, calculating, melting, ice, rectangular, tanks, ice makers, ice storage, energy storage, algorithms, computer programs, behaviour, comparing, experiment