Assessment of thermocline zone’s effective parameters on thermal energy storage systems

Abstract

Chilled water thermal energy systems can provide alternatives for the lack of required cooling energy demand. These systems could cover the gap between the energy generations and demand period especially when the available cooling systems such as chillers and cooling towers cannot provide the required cooling energy demand. In the current study energy analysis is done based on the mathematical model of thermally stratified chilled water storage systems. In this paper a cylindrical tank is considered as an environment with thermally stratified storage system. Using this one dimensional transient conduction model, temperature distribution in the storage water, thermocline zone and the wall are presented and important parameters has been investigated. Analyses have been done in three different groups: tank material, dimensions and using insulation. The results have shown although tank dimensions have the minimum influence on temperature distribution but the other parameters are more effective especially the influence of tank insulation.

Keywords

• thermal energy storage
• one dimensional transient conduction model
• chilled water storage systems
• thermocline zone