Stratified thermal storage tank inlet mixing characterization

Predictions of thermocline development in thermocline thermal storage tanks can be made by accounting for turbulent mixing at the inlet region. A practical measure for quantifying this mixing is obtained by introducing an effective diffusivity factor in a one-dimensional flow model. Thus, a tool for characterization of turbulent mixing caused by different inlet configurations is now available. This should facilitate the selection of diffusers for achieving a high degree of stratification in thermocline thermal storage tanks.