Numerical verification for different types of curved baffles as stratifiers in solar thermal storage tank

Abstract

This paper aims to assist the thermal stratification in hot water storage during the partial discharge water. Three different types of curved baffle have been studied each one placed in the bottom of a rectangular standard conventional tank in order to reduce the turbulence mixing of inlet jet. The purpose of this investigation is to numerically study the impact of the curved baffle within a vertical hot storage tank and compare three different baffle designs to select the best one. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model was performed using the commercial software package CFX 18. The numerically simulated tank result was validated against the experiment data. The numerical transient temperature distribution and the flow characteristics were analyzed, and then a comparison was made between the three baffle designs and the calculated performance parameter. The results manifested that the curved baffle has a significant effect for enhancing the thermal stratification at high flow rates. Design C showed the best thermal stratification due to the downward curvature shapes.