@misc{ParekhGschwanderKleinetal., author = {Parekh, Parshva Atulbhai and Gschwander, Stefan and Klein, Marten and Gamisch, Sebastian}, title = {CFD-based analysis and minimization of mixing during the charging phase of a thermal energy storage tank}, series = {1. Jahresfachtagung des Energie-Innovationszentrums (EIZ) Cottbus}, journal = {1. Jahresfachtagung des Energie-Innovationszentrums (EIZ) Cottbus}, address = {Cottbus}, pages = {2}, abstract = {Transient numerical simulations are performed for a cuboidal storage tank in order to resolve the transient features of the charging phase in a feasible manner. A diffuser is utilized for the inflow of water in order avoid large-scale overturning fluid motions in order to establish a thermal stratification. It is demonstrated that the thermal stratification can be furrther enhanced by introducing a layer of a porous medium at the top of the storage tank based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics®. Initially, a storage tank configuration without a porous medium is simulated in order to establish a baseline understanding. Subsequent simulations are performed systematically varying various parameters of the porous medium, such as porosity, location, and inclination. The inclined placement of the porous sheet yields a reduction of the thermocline thickness by approximately 38\% compared to the reference case, thereby significantly enhancing the thermal stratification. As next step, the results obtained will be verified in an experimental apparatus at Fraunhofer ISE. In the talk, the set-up of the numerical model, including the treatment of the porous sheet, the thermocline evolution together with the governing fluid flow, and the effect of an additionally installed porous sheet will be discussed}, language = {en} }