Heat Transfer Analysis of Insulation Material for the Reserve Hot Water Tank

Abstract

A domestic hot water tank represents a significant potential demand-side management asset in energy systems. The selection of insulation materials is crucial for maintaining the temperature of the hot water tank and preventing massive heat loss from the tank. This study aims to analyze the different combinations of insulation material for the reserve hot water tank. Several materials, such as plywood, white bricks, red bricks, plasticine, aluminum foil, styrofoam, fine sand, and glass, were used as the insulation layer in experiments. Seven combinations of insulation layers were made to insulate the mini reserve water tank in the experiment. The insulation layers covered the surface of the water tank, and the initial and final temperature of the hot water was measured. The heat loss from the hot water tank and the thermal resistivity of the insulators were also studied. The experimental results revealed that the combination of plastic, plasticines, styrofoam, and timber yields the lowest heat loss for the hot water tank. This finding indicated that the material with low thermal conductivity is the best insulator for preventing heat loss from the thermal system. Thus, this study is useful in designing and selecting the insulation materials for the reserve hot water tank for domestic and industrial use.