Experimental investigation of radial thermal cooling of the energy storage tank

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to carry out the experimental investigation of radial thermal cooling of the energy storage tank. in order to improve charging the energy storage system and minimizing the extra heat losses, account for the energy loss in the charging radially across the tank and account for it and to construct a thermal energy storage system. Materials used included; Pico data logger, thermocouples ,computer, storage container, sunflower oil. the experimental procedure involved a thermal energy storage unit consisting of a vertical cylindrical tank of diameter about 0.20 m and height 0. 40m.The top part of the storage tank is covered with a circular lid that can be opened where the cooking unit is situated. Both the storage tank and the lid are made from mild steel material and to be insulated with about 0.05 m thickness of fyre wrap insulation material incase to minimize heat losses. Pico thermocouples are to be placed inside some part of the TES tank and then well connected in Pico data logger which is connected to the computer for temperature measurements while charging is taking place. The charging unit consists of a circular casing of diameter 0.05 m and height 0.15 m where a heating element of rating 800 W and 220 V is to be inserted. The radial cooling curve is plotted and then carefully studied. The results after plotting, a graph shows that there is the gradual decrease in the temperature of the storage tank radially across the tank. This indicates that also the power delivered from the hot oil to the cooking unit goes on reducing as you move away from the center of the tank radially.