Experimental study of a domestic hot water storage tank thermal behaviour

Much work has been carried out on hot water storage during the last 20-30 years, particularly on solar heat applications. Theoretical and experimental studies on the internal heat transfer have been made at laboratory scale and at larger scales. Current study, which was conducted in order to understand the stratification phenomena, involved an experimental study on the thermal behaviour in a hot water tank during charging and discharging for domestic hot water storage. Results showed no effect of stratification due to the injection fluid from the bottom of the tank and the effect of mixed convection induced by the temperature difference which created a mixture inside the tank, where the temperature was uniform across the height, and the apparition of stratification due to the fact of discharge from the bottom of the tank.