Mathematical model for numerical simulation of the transient heat transfer and fluid flows in water thermal energy storage tanks is developed. The model allows analysis of the thermal fields in the accumulators at different schemes and modes of charging and discharging. It was verified and validated based on experimentally obtained information about the temperature stratification at charging of a thermal accumulator at a laboratory solar system. The proposed approach for numerical study of the thermal energy storage is convenient for parametrical estimation and improvement of the efficiency of the thermal systems.
Numerical simulation of stratified thermal energy storage tanks
