Use of a shroud and baffle to improve natural convection to immersed heat exchangers

Optimizing heat transfer during the charge and discharge of thermal stores is crucial for high performance of solar thermal systems for domestic and commercial applications. This study models a sensible water storage tank for which charge and discharge are accomplished using a heat exchanger immersed in the storage fluid. The objective is to investigate the use of a baffle and shroud as a means to improve convective heat transfer and thermal stratification. The immersed heat exchanger is modeled as a two-dimensional isothermal cylinder which is situated near the top of a storage tank with adiabatic walls. Transient numerical simulations of the discharge process are obtained for 10⁵ < Ra_D < 10⁷. An adiabatic shroud and baffle whose geometry is parametrically varied is placed around and below the cylinder. Transient Nusselt numbers are calculated for different baffle-shroud geometries and Rayleigh numbers. Results indicate that a long baffle with a high shroud height is optimal.