On the heat storage in Solar Updraft Tower collectors – Water bags

The goal of this study is to analyze particularly the sensible heat storage physical process in a Solar Updraft Tower collector taking into account the transient heat transfer in ground through conduction, convection and solar radiation and the use of water bags. Simulations were carried out varying the thickness of some water bags sets with and without insulation regarding thermal stratification effect. Results disclosed that thicker water bags can reduce more efficiently the daily temperature spam and thermal stratification is an import thermal effect. Water bags alone are however not enough to break efficiently heat peaks. 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.