This study investigates the temperature profiles predicted by trnsys one-dimensional (1D) thermal storage tank models for typical charging conditions. Simulation parameters, such as grid spacing and time-step size, were varied to observe the changes in the numerical error when compared with an exact analytical solution. A Taylor series expansion was also performed on the discretized, 1D, advection–diffusion equation to obtain an expression for this numerical error. A numerical diffusion term was found which could be used to improve the prediction of the temperature profile in a storage tank simulation. Finally, the influence of this error on predictions of the annual solar fraction for a domestic hot water system was explored.
Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
Clean energy,
Collector,
Conservation,
Efficiency,
Energy,
Environment,
Heat transfer,
Heating,
Renewable,
Simulation,
Solar,
Storage,
Sustainability ,
System,
Testing,
Thermal power,
Thermodynamics
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