THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE TANK DIFFUSER HEAD
A diffuser head for a thermal energy storage tank. The diffuser head includes an inlet portion having an inlet with a first cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to a vertical axis of the diffuser, and an outlet portion having an outlet with a second cross-sectional area larger than the first cross-sectional area. The diffuser head includes a diffuser portion disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The diffuser portion has a diffuser cross-section substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis and the diffuser cross-section gradually increases from the inlet portion to the outlet portion. The diffuser head includes a plurality of baffles spanning the diffuser portion between the inlet and the outlet and substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis of the diffuser head, each baffle forming one or more slots configured to allow a fluid flow through the baffles.
1 . A diffuser head for a thermal energy storage tank, the diffuser head comprising:
an inlet portion having an inlet with a first cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to a vertical axis of the diffuser head;
an outlet portion having an outlet with a second cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to the vertical axis of the diffuser head, the second cross-sectional area larger than the first cross-sectional area;
a diffuser portion disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, the diffuser portion having a diffuser cross-section substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis, the diffuser cross-section gradually increasing from the inlet portion to the outlet portion; and
a plurality of baffles spanning the diffuser portion between the inlet and the outlet and substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis of the diffuser head, each baffle of the plurality of baffles forming one or more slots configured to allow a fluid flow through each baffle.
2 . The diffuser head of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser portion comprises an outer diffuser wall defining the diffuser cross-section at each vertical position along the vertical axis of the diffuser head.
3 . The diffuser head of claim 2 , wherein each baffle of the plurality of baffles is substantially circular and spans substantially the entire cross-section of the diffuser portion at a respective vertical position along the vertical axis.
4 . The diffuser head of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of baffles is connected to the outer diffuser wall at an outer edge of the respective baffle.
5 . The diffuser head of claim 1 , wherein a first baffle of the plurality of baffles has a first circumference that is less than a second circumference of a second baffle of the plurality of baffles, the second baffle being disposed between the first baffle and the outlet portion.
6 . The diffuser head of claim 1 , wherein the one or more slots are substantially circular.
7 . The diffuser head of claim 6 , wherein the one or more slots are arrayed in a concentric pattern between the vertical axis of the diffuser head and the outer diffuser wall.
8 . The diffuser head of claim 7 , wherein an outermost slot in each baffle of the plurality of baffles is spaced away from the outer diffuser wall such that fluid flow is prevented between the respective baffle and the outer diffuser wall.
9 . A thermal energy storage system comprising:
a tank having a tank vertical axis; and
a diffuser head disposed within the tank, the diffuser head having a diffuser vertical axis coaxial with the tank vertical axis, the diffuser head comprising:
an inlet portion having an inlet with a first cross-sectional area;
an outlet portion having an outlet with a second cross-sectional area larger than the first cross-sectional area;
a diffuser portion disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, the diffuser portion having a diffuser cross-section substantially perpendicular to the diffuser vertical axis, the diffuser cross-section gradually increasing from the inlet portion to the outlet portion; and
a plurality of baffles spanning the diffuser portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the diffuser vertical axis between the inlet and the outlet, each baffle forming one or more slots configured to allow a fluid flow through the baffles,
wherein the inlet is configured to receive fluid from a tank inlet of the tank and the outlet is configured to discharge the fluid into an interior of the tank.
10 . The thermal energy storage system of claim 9 , wherein the diffuser portion comprises an outer diffuser wall defining the diffuser cross-section at each vertical position along the vertical axis of the diffuser head.
11 . The thermal energy storage system of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of horizontal baffles is substantially circular and spans substantially the entire cross-section of the diffuser portion.
12 . The thermal energy storage system of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of baffles is connected to the outer diffuser wall at an outer edge of the respective baffle.
13 . The thermal energy storage system of claim 9 , wherein a first baffle of the plurality of baffles has a first circumference that is less than a second circumference of a second baffle of the plurality of baffles, the second baffle being disposed between the first baffle and the outlet portion.
14 . The thermal energy storage system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more slots are substantially circular.
15 . The diffuser head of claim 14 , wherein the one or more slots are arrayed in a concentric pattern between the vertical axis of the diffuser head and the outer diffuser wall.
16 . A method of diffusing a coolant fluid, the method comprising:
providing a diffuser head disposed within a tank, the diffuser head having a diffuser vertical axis coaxial with a tank vertical axis, wherein the diffuser head includes:
an inlet with a first cross-sectional area,
an outlet with a second cross-sectional area larger than the first cross-sectional area,
a diffuser portion disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the diffuser portion having a diffuser cross-section substantially perpendicular to the diffuser vertical axis, the diffuser cross-section gradually increasing from the inlet portion to the outlet portion, and
a plurality of baffles spanning the diffuser portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the diffuser vertical axis between the inlet and the outlet, each baffle forming one or more slots configured to allow fluid flow of the coolant fluid;
introducing a coolant fluid through the inlet of the diffuser head, the coolant fluid being conveyed along the diffuser vertical axis through the one or more slots of the plurality of baffles from the inlet portion to the outlet portion, thereby expanding flow area and reducing flow momentum of the coolant fluid; and
collecting, in an interior of the tank, the diffused coolant fluid from the outlet of the diffuser head.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:
each of the plurality of baffles is substantially circular and spans substantially the entire cross-section of the diffuser portion at a respective vertical position along the diffuser vertical axis; and
wherein the one or more slots are arrayed in a concentric pattern between the diffuser vertical axis and an outer diffuser wall.
18 . The method of claim 18 , wherein a first baffle of the plurality of baffles has a first circumference that is less than a second circumference of a second baffle of the plurality of baffles, the second baffle being disposed between the first baffle and the outlet.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more slots are substantially circular.
20 . The diffuser head of claim 19 , wherein the one or more slots are arrayed in a concentric pattern between the vertical axis of the diffuser head and the outer diffuser wall.