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Andreas, The rock bed model takes the rock bed cross sectional area, length (in the flow direction), and perimeter as parameters so that there is no assumption about the configuration of the bed geometry. With these parameters, you can model any shape you wish. The stratification in the bed is driven entirely by the forced flow of air and not by any natural buoyancy so I think that while the documentation presents the bed as being vertically stratified, in fact the stratification is entirely along the flow path. Thus it is okay to model a horizontal configuration in which you have air inlets at either end instead of at the top and bottom. My only caution in this is that the environmental temperature is assumed to be the same on all sides of the rock bed so the one inaccuracy might be if your rock bed sits on a floor such that one side of it is subject to a different environmental condition. Kind regards, David On 7/11/2012 03:09, Andreas Hartmann
wrote:
Dear All, -- *************************** David BRADLEY Principal Thermal Energy Systems Specialists, LLC 22 North Carroll Street - suite 370 Madison, WI 53703 USA P:+1.608.274.2577 F:+1.608.278.1475 d.bradley@tess-inc.com http://www.tess-inc.com http://www.trnsys.com |