Water-Glycol Tank Cycling and Loss Calculations

Figure (1.0)

The following will be used to determine the optimal water-glycol storage tank size for the
refrigeration system. Several tank sizes with variable insulation thicknesses will be
examined and corresponding graphs will be produced to show the cycling rates and
overshoot.

• The refrigerator will cool a thermal mass (water-glycol) to a low temperature

using a liquid to liquid heat exchanger. This process is considered to be almost
100% efficient.
• Firstly the warmest and wettest outside air conditions will are assumed when
determining the heat draw from the tank to the Chamber and to the room.
• The thermal mass will, in turn, cool the incoming air with a liquid to air heat
exchanger. This process is also considered to be roughly 100% efficient.
• Because of the incredibly high flow rate, it is assumed pipe and duct heat losses
will be minimal and therefore are disregarded.

• m3
Boundary flow rate is found to be V B = 0.130
s
• m3
Chamber flow rate is found to be V C = 0.0203 .
s
• m3
Total volumetric flow rate approximately: V = 0.150 .
s
From EES (Engineering Equation Solver) and other sources the following properties are
determined:
kJ
Latent Heat of Vaporization H fg =2258
kg
kJ
Specific Heat Capacity of Air CPa =1.01
kg ⋅ K
kg
Humidity ratio of summer air is Ws =0.0098
kg
kg
Humidity ratio of winter air is WW =0.0020
kg
kg
Humidity ratio of cooled air is W∞ =0.00379
kg
Because the temperatures are so low in the winter conditions, only summer values will be
used to calculate minimum refrigeration values.
• •
The equation relating volumetric flow rate to m = V × ρ gets:

• • m3 kg kg
m = V × ρ = (0.150) × (1.275) 3 = 0.1913 (1.0)
s m s

Total cooling is equal to the sensible and latent heats of cooling for this mass flow. The
equation to find total cooling will look something like this:

Qtot = QiS + QiL (1.1)

The energy used to cool the incoming air: QiS

QiS = mC
& Pa (Ti − T∞ ) (1.2)

The energy used to condensate the incoming air and makes it 100% RH: QiL

QiL = mH
& fg (Ws − W∞ ) (1.3)

Substituting values for equation (1.2) gets:

kg kJ
QiS = (0.1913) (1.01) (283.82 − 273.15) = 2.06kW
s kg ⋅ K

Substituting values for equation (1.3) gets:

 kg kJ kg
QiL = (0.1913) (2258) (0.0098 − 0.00379) = 2.60kW
s kg kg

Using equation (1.1) shows that the minimum cooling load required in the system is:

Qtot = QiS + QiL = (2.06)kW + (2.60)kW = 4.66kW

This value for wattage can be converted to standard cooling tons with this equation:

s Q W
Qtons = (60) ( tot ) = 0.74ton
min 211 W
min

Now, the heat loss through the tank insulation will be determined. The tank will be
insulated with polyurethane at about 4 inches thick on all sides.

The thickness of the Tank walls (polyurethane) L = 0.10 m

The surface area of the Tank is (estimated) AT =? m 2
The convection heat transfer from the Tank qT =? W
The average temperature of the Tank TT =0.5 C or 273.65 K
W
Conduction coefficient of polyurethane k = 0.025
m⋅K
Percent of Monoethylenglycol [C2H4(OH)2] by volume in water = 25%
kg
Roe = Density of Water/Glycol ρ @ 275K =1036 3
m
J
Cp = Specific heat of 25% water/glycol @ 275K C p =3870
kg ⋅ K
The conversion from gallons to meters cubes is 1 gallon = 0.003785 m3

The area of the tank is determined by its shape and storage capacity. The shape will be
assumed to be cylindrical with a height as large as its diameter. H T = DT
The equation to determine the area of the tank with respect to volume is:

2
 1

  
3 4V 3
AT = π    T   (1.4)
 2   π  
 

The equation used to determine the heat transfer into the Tank is:

kAT
qT = (T∞A − TT ) (1.5)
L
A temperature rise of only 1 degree Celsius will be used to determine the maximum
energy lost in the water/glycol Tank before the refrigerator turns on. The tank will
continue to loose energy to the outside and to the Chamber while it is being re-cooled.
Once the Tank is at 0 degrees Celsius again, the refrigerator unit will stop. The following
calculation will be preformed for a 1 ton refrigerator (about 6.3 kW) and 250 gallon tank.
The air conditions are T∞A = 300K RH=50%.

Solving for equation (1.4) gets:

m3
250 gallons = ( 250 ) gal ( 0.003785 ) = VT = 0.946m3
gal
2
 3 3
1

 
3  4(0.946) m 
AT = π    
  = 5.34m
2

2  π  
 

Solving for equation (1.5) gets:

W
(0.025) (5.34)m 2
kAT m⋅K
qT = (T∞A − TT ) = (300 − 273.65) K = 35.2W
L (0.10)m

Because this value is less then 1% of the total heat transfer in the system, it will be
negated in further calculations.

The time it takes to lower the temperature of the Tank one degree Celsius is now
calculated with equation (1.2) modified.

kg J
QTank = mCP (Ti − To ) = VT × ρ × CP (Ti − To ) = (0.946)m3 (1036)
(3870) (1 − 0) K = 3.793 ×106 J
m 3
kg ⋅ K
With heat drawn at 4.66kW the time it takes to lower the tank one degree Celsius is:

QTank ( 3793000 ) J
= = 813.9sec = 13.6 min
Q&tot J
( 4660 )
s
Taking the tank back down one degree would take:

QTank
=
( 3793000 ) J = 2313sec = 38.5 min
& &
QRefrigerator − Qtot J
( 6300 − 4660 )
s