Experiments on stratified chilled-water tanks: Expériences menées avec des reservoirs d'accumulation d'eau glacée à stratification

Abstract

This paper presents experimental studies on thermal stratification in chilled-water storage systems. A fibreglass storage tank in static and dynamic modes of operation is used. The parameters varied are aspect ratio, flow rates, initial temperature difference and thickness of insulation. Emphasis is given to the effects of mixing at the inlet, leading to the definition of the mixing coefficient. The thermocline decay increases with the value of mixing coefficient, which is expressed as a function of Reynolds number and Richardson number.