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Thermal performance of an integrated collector storage solar water heater (ICSSWH) with a storage tank equipped with radial fins of rectangular profile

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Abstract

The thermal behavior of an integrated collector storage solar water heater (ICSSWH) is numerically studied using the package Fluent 6.3. Based on the good agreement between the numerical results and the experimental data of Chaouachi and Gabsi (Renew Energy Revue 9(2):75–82, 2006), an attempt to improve this solar system operating was made by equipping the storage tank with radial fins of rectangular profile. A second 3D CFD model was developed and a series of numerical simulations were conducted for various SWH designs which differ in the depth of this extended surface for heat exchange. As the modified surface presents a higher characteristic length for convective heat transfer from the storage tank to the water, the fins equipped storage tank based SWH is determined to have a higher water temperature and a reduced thermal losses coefficient during the day-time period. Regarding the night operating of this water heater, the results suggest that the modified system presents higher thermal losses.

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Abbreviations

d:

Fins depth (m)

Cp :

Specific heat (J kg−1 K−1)

G:

Solar heat flux (W m−2)

h:

Heat transfer coefficient (W m−2 K−1)

q:

Heat flux (W)

s:

Storage tank surface (m2)

t:

Time (s)

T:

Temperature (K)

U:

Thermal loss coefficient (W K−1)

V:

Storage tank volume (m3)

β:

Air thermal expansion coefficient (K−1)

ρ:

Density (kg m−3)

Δ:

Variation

η:

Efficiency of the solar water heater

a:

Ambient

AST:

Air surrounding the tank

cv:

Convective

D:

Daily

e:

External

f:

Final (the present hour)

i:

Initial (the previous hour)

m:

Mean

n:

Night

s:

Storage

T:

Total

th:

Thermal

TS:

Tank surface

0:

Reference

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité de Thermique et Thermodynamique des Procédés Industriels, Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Monastir, route de Ouardanine, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia

    Monia Chaabane & Hatem Mhiri

  2. IUSTI, UMR CNRS 6595, 5 Rue Enrico Fermi, Technopôle de Château-Gombert, 13013, Marseille, France

    Philippe Bournot

Authors
  1. Monia Chaabane
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  2. Hatem Mhiri
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  3. Philippe Bournot
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Correspondence to Monia Chaabane.

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Chaabane, M., Mhiri, H. & Bournot, P. Thermal performance of an integrated collector storage solar water heater (ICSSWH) with a storage tank equipped with radial fins of rectangular profile. Heat Mass Transfer 49, 107–115 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-012-1065-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-012-1065-z

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