The work includes experimental investigations in three model heat storage's of different size and comparisons to numerical simulations for two of the storages.
Thermal stratification is essential for most applications of water heat storage's.
Different ways of measuring the degree of stratification were presented. Exergy efficiency was considered as best to use if the spatial resolution of the available temperature field is good. The thermal stratification is strongly dependent of the flow pattern in the storage. Mixing of hot and cold water near the inlet during charging can have a severe impact on the stratification. Much of the work was therefore focused on studies of this effect.