Abstract
This study describes the experimental study that focuses on the effects that distributor shapes and flow rate variations have an influence on the stratification in a rectangular thermal storage tank. Experiments were carried out under the conditions that the flow rates of working fluid are 20, 10 and $5\ell$/min. The storage tank is initially filled with chilled water of $1^{\circ}C$, and is extracted through the bottom at the same rate as the return warm water from load is entered through the distributor at the top of the tank. The thermo-cline forms at the top of the storage tank as the warm water enters the tank from the load through the distributor and the thermo-cline thickness increases with time. Emphasis is given to the effects of mixing at the inlet that increases the thermo-cline decay Flow rate variation and inlet distributor shapes are the important parameters in deciding the performance of a storage system. Stratification degree increases with decreasing in inlet flow rate under $10\ell$/min. Experiments shows that better thermal stratification can be obtain using the distributor to limit momentum mixing at the inlets and outlets. Also, 12% of improvement in the thermal energy usage has been achieved using the modified distributor discharging same flow rate in each lateral ports.
