• Solar Energy
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• v.13 no.2_3
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• pp.45-52
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• 1993

The benefits of thermal stratification in sensible heat storage were investigated for residential solar applications. The effect of increased thermal useful efficiency of hot water stored in an actual storage tank due to stratification has been discussed and illustrated through experimental data and computer simulation, which were taken by changing dynamic and geometric parameters. When the flow rate was 8 liter/min and ${\Delta}T=40^{\circ}C$ was $40^{\circ}C$, the useful efficiency(${\eta}_u$) was about 90% in case of using a distributor, but not using a distributor the useful efficiency(${\eta}_u$) was about 82%. So these kinds of distributor would be recommendable for a hot water storage system and residential solar energy application to increase useful efficiency(${\eta}_u$). In the case of the uniform circular distributor, when the flow rate was 8 liter/min partial mixing was decreased and a stable stratification was obtained. Furthermore, if the distrbutor was manufactured so that the flow is to be the same from all perforations in order to enhance stratification, it might be predicted that further stable stratification and higher useful efficiency(${\eta}_u$) are obtainable.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.37-46
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• 2001

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.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.43-49
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• 2007

This study is conducted to improve the efficiency of a thermal storage tank. The thermal storage tank was designed to store heat energy that obtained from the solar or the others heat sources. However, it has difficulties in storing heat with nonuniform temperature through the entire tank with respect to the vertical direction, This study is focused on the thermal stratification to improve thermal comfort for the resident in house. To enhance temperature stratification of the tank, a distributor was designed and installed in the middle of the storage tank vertically. The vertically designed distributor could supply the return water with stratified temperature in the storage tank with respect to the height. The water velocity from the distributor hole is the same with the other outlet in the distributor. However, gravity effect on the flow in the storage tank is much higher than that of the velocity effect due to that Froude Number is less than 1. During the heat charging process in the storage tank, temperature maintained with little difference with respect to the height. However the charging process takes long time to get a effective temperature for the heating or hot water supply because of all of water in the storage tank needs to be heated.

• Solar Energy
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.3-12
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• 1990

This paper deals with experimental research to increase thermal storage efficiency of hot water stored in an actual storage tank for solar application. The effect of increased energy input rate due to stratification has been discussed and illustrated through experimental data, which was taken by changing dynamic and geometric parameters. Ranges of the parameters were defined for flow rate, the ratio of diameter to height of the tank and inlet-exit water temperature difference. During the heat storage, when the flow was lower, the temperature difference was larger and the ratio of diameter to height of the tank was higher, the momentum exchange decreased. As for this experiment, when the flow rate was 8 liter/min, the temperature difference was $30^{\circ}C$ and the ratio of diameter to height of the tank was 3, the momentum exchange was minimized resulting in a good thermocline and a stable stratification. In the case of using inlet ports, if the modified Richardson number was less than 0.004, full mixing occured and so unstable stratification occured, which mean that this could not be recommended as storage through thermal stratification. Using a distributor was better than using inlet ports to form a sharp thermocline and to enhance the stratification. It was possible to get storage efficiency of 95% by using the distributor, which was higher than a storage efficiency of 85% obtained by using inlet ports in same operation condition. Furthermore, if the distributor was manufactured so that the mainpipe decreases in diameter toward the dead end to maintain constant static pressure, it might be predicted that further stable stratification and higher storage efficiency are obtainable(ie:more than 95%).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.254-262
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• 2003

Effect of the air distributor pore size for the removal of aquacultural waste, such as protein, total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), turbidity and total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) from sea water was investigated by using foam separator. With the increase of pore size of air distributor, removal rates and efficiency of protein decreased. Removal rate by commercial air stone was in the range between the removal rates by G2 and G4 sintered glass discs. Within the range of pore size distributor from Gl to G4, the removal efficiency of protein were ranged from 21 to $42\%.$ The changes of removal rates and efficiencies of TSS, COD and turbidity were similar to proteins. TAN was removed by stripping. The pore size of air distributor for a higher overall oxygen mass transfer coefficient and saturation efficiency provided the condition for higher protein removal rate. Also the foam separator could be used as an aerator.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2007

A 3-way valve has been applied to a distributor in a hot-water heating system and the performance of the system was evaluated in view of the variations of pressure drop and flow rate. The 3-way valve has been designed to bypass overplus hot-water when a control valve is closed. Note that the flow goes through heating pipeline in normal operation. In the present study, the measured pressure drops in each part of the flow paths show that the contribution to the total pressure drop is in the order of the supply header with control valves, piping system of each room and return header of the distributor, even though the amount of it is different according to the flow paths. As a result of performance test by sequential closing of the control valves, the variations of pressure drop and flow rate in the distributor with 3-way valves is much lower than those with previous 2-way valves, which prevent noises induced by pressure fluctuations.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.503-511
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• 2002

Heat flow characteristics during hot water extraction process was studied experimentally. Data were taken at various outlet port type for the fixed inlet port type, inlet-outlet temperature differences and mass flow rates. In this study, the temperature distribution in a storage tank and an outlet temperature were measured to predict a degree of stratification in the storage tank, and a useful rate of hot water was analysed with respect to the variables dominating a extraction process. Experimental results show that the degree of stratification and useful rate of hot water are all high in a low flow rate in case of using modified distributor I (MDI) as the outlet port type.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.577-584
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• 2007

A variable-flow-rate balancing valve has been developed and optimized to apply to a distributor in a hot-water heating system. Fluid dynamic performance of the system was evaluated by comparing the results with the previous pressure difference control valve (PDCV) system. In view of the variations of pressure drop and flow rate according to the sequential closing of the control valves, the present system which is named "smart system distributor", is very stable without a certain flow rate concentration. The level of pressure drop variation is also low as compared with the previous system with a PDCV. In view of the occurrence of cavitation, the present system is quite superior to the previous system because the instantaneous pressures at all sections are much higher than the vapor pressure. On the other hand, the previous system has a possibility of cavitation when one or more control valves are closed.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.549-556
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• 2001

Heat flow characteristics during hot water extraction process was studied experimentally. Data were taken at various outlet port type for the fixed inlet port type, inlet-outlet temperature differences and mass flow rates. In this study, the temperature distribution in a storage tank and an outlet temperature were measured to predict a flow pattern in the storage tank, and a hot water extraction efficiency was analysed with respect to the variables dominating a extraction process. Experimental results show that the extraction efficiency is high in a low flow rate in case of using modified distributor I(MDI) as a outlet port type.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.444-450
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• 2013

The distribution performance of refrigerant distributors in air conditioner evaporators was examined numerically and experimentally. Internal flow analysis of the distributor by CFD found that the distance from the socket to the cone, the angle of the cone and the base area of the cone were the most important factors affecting refrigerant distribution ability and vortex creation. To enhance distribution performance, two distributors with improved internal structures were designed. To test these new structures, distribution performance was also analyzed by CFD and an empirical experiment was carried out using the water-nitrogen. Experimental results on the distribution fraction of each distributor hole showed a good agreement with the results of the CFD analysis. Thus, the new design of the distributors enhanced distribution performance of the refrigerant distributors.