Two- dimensional CFD analysis of a hot water storage tank with immersed obstacles

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26577/JMMCS2024-v123-i3-7
        84 41

Keywords:

Sensible Heat Storage, Thermal Energy, Immersed Obstacles, Water Tank, CFD

Abstract

A comprehensive study was conducted to develop a two-dimensional mathematical model for a thermal storage tank containing internal disk-shaped obstacles. This model, incorporating appropriate initial and boundary conditions, was solved using the built-in solvers of the licensed COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 software. The COMSOL model demonstrated a maximum deviation of 2.2% from experimental results and even smaller discrepancies compared to ANSYS Fluent, validating its accuracy in describing the charging and discharging processes of a sensible heat storage tank with internal obstacles. Using this validated algorithm, numerical studies were performed to analyse temperature distribution and performance indicators for three distinct tank configurations. Among these configurations, the storage tank with a middle disk consistently exhibited superior performance. This tank achieved the highest mixing efficiency, as evidenced by smoother variations in the Richardson number and a more uniform temperature distribution. It also attained the highest capacity ratio (90.12%) and exergy efficiency (81.67%), indicating its effectiveness in heat retention and the quality of stored thermal energy. Furthermore, it demonstrated the highest charging efficiency at 67.51%, highlighting its ability to store incoming heat more effectively. These findings establish the tank with a middle disk as the most efficient configuration for thermal energy storage and uniform temperature distribution.

Author Biographies

A. Abdidin, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan, Almaty

Alina Abdidin– a 2nd-year master’s student of the dual-degree program between Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan) and the University of Lorraine (France) in the specialty "7M05405- Mechanics and Energy". Recipient of the one-year Eiffel scholarship from the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic (Almaty, Nancy, Kazakhstan, France, alina.abdidin1@etu.univ-lorraine.fr; alinaab808@gmail.com)

A. Kereikulova, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan, Almaty

Aiym Kereikulova– a 2nd-year master’s student of the dual-degree program between Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan) and the University of Lorraine (France) in the specialty "7M05405- Mechanics and Energy". Recipient of the one-year Abai-Verne scholarship under the joint program of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic (Almaty, Nancy, Kazakhstan, France, aiym.kereikulova9@etu.univ-lorraine.fr; aiymkereikulova56@gmail.com)

A. Toleukhanov, Satbayev University, Kazakhstan, Almaty

Amankeldy Toleukhanov– PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Satbayev University (Almaty, Kazakhstan, aman.toleukhanov@gmail.com)

О. Botella, University de Lorraine, CNRS, LEMTA, France, Nancy

Olivier Botella– PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Lorraine, France. Researcher at the "Heat Management"Lab of the Energy, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Research Center (LEMTA), University of Lorraine, France. Coordinator of the dual-degree program (from the French side) between Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the University of Lorraine in the specialty "7M05405- Mechanics and Energy"(Nancy, France, olivier.botella@univ-lorraine.fr)

А. Kheiri, University de Lorraine, CNRS, LEMTA, France, Nancy

Abdelhamid Kheiri– PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Lorraine, France. Researcher at the "Heat Management"Lab of the Energy, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Research Center (LEMTA), University of Lorraine, France (Nancy, France, abdelhamid.kheiri@univ-lorraine.fr)

Ye. Belyayev, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan, Almaty

Yerzhan Belyayev (corresponding author)–PhD, Associate Professor, Acting Professor of the Department of Mechanics at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Coordinator of the dual degree program (from the Kazakh side) between Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the University of Lorraine in the specialty "7M05405- Mechanics and Energy"(Almaty, Kazakhstan, yerzhan.belyaev@kaznu.edu.kz; yerzhan.belyayev@gmail.com)

Downloads

How to Cite

Abdidin, . A., Kereikulova, A., Toleukhanov, A., Botella О., Kheiri А. ., & Belyayev, Y. (2024). Two- dimensional CFD analysis of a hot water storage tank with immersed obstacles. Journal of Mathematics, Mechanics and Computer Science, 123(3), 57–80. https://doi.org/10.26577/JMMCS2024-v123-i3-7