Numerical simulation of thermo-fluid properties and optimization of hot water storage tank in biomass heating systems

A 1.5 MW combustion facility burning large bales of soy straw has been built for the purpose of heating 1 ha of vegetable greenhouses located within the complex of Agricultural Plant PKB in Padinska Skela, Serbia. The paper addresses numerical and experimental study of temperature distribution in a cylindrical, 100 m3 (8 m high, 4 m in diameter) hot water storage tank. The water tank optimization, as well as optimization of the heating facility as a whole, were identified as the main goals of the study performed. Water temperature was measured by a temperature probe inserted in the tank. Measurements were conducted in 256 measurement points, both under steady and unsteady water flow conditions. Water tank optimization analysis was carried out utilizing both steady and unsteady state numerical simulation. The results obtained indicated good agreement between the experimental and computational data acquired.