Turbulence Drivers
Geometry, discharge volume and aspect ratio dictate the balance between flow momentum and buoyancy.
Case study · Data centre
Next-gen thermal storage, engineered for maximum efficiency.
CFD-validated buffer tank performance for a data centre with demanding space and PUE constraints.
95%
ΔT retention over a 2-hour discharge
30%
Reduction in flow short-circuiting
25%
Pumping energy saved
18
Horizontal tanks modelled in the study
The challenge
Holding the thermocline in a constrained space.
Buffer tanks only deliver value when cold and warm water stay separated. In horizontal tanks, poorly designed inlets drive turbulence that mixes the layers, eroding usable capacity and forcing pumps to work harder.
We used computational fluid dynamics to visualise temperature distribution inside the tank, test design alternatives and select the configuration that preserves stratification.
Design insights
What the simulation revealed.
Four factors decided whether the tanks would perform, each tested and refined in simulation before fabrication.
Tank Components
Pipe sizing, inlet orientation and diffuser layout determine how much mixing occurs.
CFD Analysis
Eighteen horizontal tanks studied under the data centre’s strict space constraints.
Eyelet Diffuser
Avoids baffle losses to help the data centre hit its PUE targets.
Our approach
From model to measurable result.
Define
Capture site constraints, load profiles and performance targets including PUE.
Model
Build CFD models of the tank geometry, inlets and diffusers.
Iterate
Compare alternatives on stratification, short-circuiting and pressure loss.
Deliver
Issue a validated design specification ready for fabrication.
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