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Hot water thermal energy stores have the potential to improve and extend the performance of many kinds of energy system. Waperature stratification in the store is likely to affect the system's efficiency. A basic but accurate computer model of the hot water store under various inlet flow conditions is a requisite means of assesiing promising applications of hot water storage by system computer simulation techniques. A microprocessor-controlled test facility has been constructed to evaluate the performance of a 3m 3 hot water store under a wide range of inlet flow conditions, using a temperature step input approach. Three types of inlet/outlet ports have been examined: horizontal, vertical and distributors. The results show that two distinct regions evolve within the store: a fully-mixed region adjacent to the inlet port and a region of smooth 'plug-flow' in the remaining volume of the store. The performance of the store is shown to be defined by the initial depth of the fully-mixed region which in turn is seen to be closely related to the buoyancy and momentum fluxes of the inlet flow. The behAviour of the store and the evident correlations have enabled a one-dimensional computer model of the store to be developed, taking into account the turbulent mixing, vertical heat conduction and heat losses to the surrounding areas. The model has been successfully validated against the results from the step input experiments. The model has been integrated into a computer simulated central heating system which incorporates a hot water store. Predictions have been made, using the simulation, of the energy savings which may be achieved with the use of storage in comparison to a conventional system, and an assessment has been made of the economic viability of the application.

Thesis (MTech (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009 / This study presents an intelligent Hot Water Cylinder (HWC) usage profiling system to provide peak demand side management and improve HWC efficiency in a typical household. In this research HWCs will be referred to as geysers. Research was done into various techniques available to improve energy efficiency in South Africa, as well as the different sectors South Africa's electricity supplier, Eskom, has highlighted where improvements in energy efficiency can be made. From this it was decided to refine the scope of the project to the residential sector, and more importantly geyser. A typical geysers operation and power consumption was researched and analysed to determine where efficiency improvements could be made. A system was required that would reduce the amount of energy consumed by the geyser, and provide the consumer with hot water at the same time. Based on the research it was decided to design a profile based geyser controller. The profiling system comprised of a PIC microcontroller, four digital temperature sensors and a time keeper used to determine individually based hot water usage profiles for the home. The profile was based on three parameters, namely the frequency (repetitiveness) of hot water being drawn, the length of the draw period, and the time of day when the water was drawn. Once the profile had reached a 90% accuracy, the profile implemented itself. Based on the profile, the controller then regulated the temperature of the geyser according to the demand of the household, without manual intervention. If the household's routine were changed, the profile would adapt itself accordingly. The controller is therefore fully intelligent and continues to refine the profile on a day to day basis. By introducing the profile based controller, the monthly average geyser temperature was reduced, reducing the amount of standing losses, which in torn reduced the total amount of energy consumed by the geyser. The profile controller was designed to aid in the reduction of the energy demand of geysers on the power grid. This will benefit both the consumer as well as Eskom, as Eskom will have a reduced power load, and the consumer will have a reduced electricity bill. The results of the experiments are shown, as well as a comparison between calculated versus measured results, to justify the accuracy of the calculations.

M.Ing. / The refrigerant R22, which is currently used in hot water heat pumps, delivers a maximum hot water temperature of 60 to 65 °C. This temperature is adequate for domestic use, but low if compared to temperatures that can be delivered by fossil fuels and direct electric resistance systems. This limits the potential applications of hot water heat pumps. In this study two analytical design methodologies were developed that can be used to predict the performances of water-to-water heat pumps. The first design methodology is for a pure R22 heat pump and the second for a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture of R22 and R142b. These design methodologies were used as tools together with three methods of comparison to determine the influence of a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture (R22 mixed with R142b) on the performance of a hot water heat pump. It was found in certain cases that, depending on the concentrations, not only are increased hot water temperatures possible but also an improved heating capacity, an improvement in the coefficient of performance and a reduction in pressure ratio of the compressor.

Microbial recovery methods for frozen blueberries, and postharvest sanitation treatments on microbial load and sensory attributes of berries were studied. Previously frozen rabbiteye blueberries were subjected to hand-mixing, machine-mixing, stomaching, vortexing, and homogenization. Aerobic (APC) and yeast and mold (YMC) counts did not differ amongst treatments but homogenization, stomaching, and vortexing tended to yield a higher recovery, with vortexing resulting in the choice method for YMC possibly due to cell disruption and colony breakage. Fresh highbush blueberries were treated with hot water (60 - 90°C) with an oxidizing agent (0 - 0.1% Boxyl®) for 10 – 30s. Water temperature was the most influential (p<0.05) factor on microbial reduction, wax/bloom and color. Holding berries at 75°C for 20s (without antimicrobial) or dipping in 200ppm chlorine for 10s resulted in 0.90 and 1.80 log reduction of APC and yeast, respectively; and 0.80 (200ppm/10s) and 2.90 (75°C/20s hot water) log reduction in mold counts.

Thesis (M.Sc.(Agricultural Management )) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Avocado fruit ‘Hass’ harvested during early-season and exposed to temperature at 5.5°C for 28 d are susceptible to chilling injury (CI); and therefore, develop poor skin colour during ripening. In ‘Hass’ avocado fruit, skin colour change during ripening is used by European market to indicate fruit ripeness and softness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of hot water (HW) and methyl jasmonate (MJ) as postharvest treatment dips to mitigate CI; and thereby, enhance ‘Hass’ avocado fruit peel colour during ripening. Fruit were harvested randomly from 5 selected trees treated alike during early season (April 2018); and thereafter, transported to the laboratory. At the laboratory, experiments of this study were divided into 2: experiment (1) fruit were dipped into HW (38, 42 and 46°C for 30, 25 and 20 min, respectively); and experiment (2) fruit were dipped into MJ (10 and 100 µmol/L for 2 min) treatments. In both experiments after these treatments, fruit were allowed to dry for 60 minutes at ambient (±25°C) temperature and untreated fruit were used as control. Thereafter, fruit were stored at commercial shipping temperature (5.5°C) for up to 28 d. After removal from cold storage, fruit were ripened at ambient temperature (±25°C) and evaluated every after 2 d for weight loss, firmness loss, objective colour parameters (lightness-L*, chroma-C* and hue angle-h*), subjective colour (eye colour) and ripening percentage. However, chilling injury (CI) and electrolyte leakage (EL) were evaluated immediately after removal from cold storage. The results showed that HW significantly (P< 0.05) increased weight and firmness loss during ripening. Furthermore, HW reduced EL and external chilling injury (ECI) of ‘Hass’ avocado fruit during cold storage. In addition, the results showed that HW had significant effect (P< 0.05) on colour parameter L* and eye colour rating, but did not affect (P> 0.05) C* and h*. Avocado ‘Hass’ fruit subjected to HW at 42°C/25 and 46°C/20 min developed purple colour (eye colour rating 4.47 and 4.36, respectively) during ripening when compared with HW at 38°C/30 min and control fruit. Moreover, results showed that dipping fruit in 10 µmol/L had a significant effect (P< 0.05) on reducing weight loss during ripening. Methyl jasmonate (10 and 100 µmol/L) treatment reduced EL and alleviated external chilling injury (ECI) of ‘Hass’ fruit during cold storage. The results showed that MJ (10 and 100 µmol/L) treatments had significant effect (P< 0.05) on colour parameter L*, h* and eye colour rating, but did not affect (P> 0.05) C*. Furthermore, ‘Hass’ fruit treated with 10 and 100 µmol/L MJ reached the purple skin colour (eye rating 5.39 and 5.19, respectively) during ripening. Fruit dipped in MJ (10 µmol/L) had low weight loss when compared with fruit treated with MJ (100 µmol/L). In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that HW (42°C/25 minutes) and MJ (10 µmol/L) effectively alleviated external chilling injury; and therefore, improved ‘Hass’ skin colour development during ripening / Agricultural Research Council-Institute (Agriseta) and University of Limpopo

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Master / Master of Science in Engineering

Water systems in buildings have been reported to contribute to pseudomonal infection transmission and have been associated with Legionnaires’ disease (LD) outbreaks, for they provide the perfect conditions for bacteria proliferation and biofilms formation. An overview of the problem has highlighted that the economic burden, the healthcare and mortality costs of both LD and pseudomonal infections are significant. Although critical to the safe delivery of water, pathogen control continues to remain a challenge as current hot water treatments are not always effective, are often energy intensive and require expensive maintenance. This thesis was set out to evaluate the potential use of electrochemical disinfection (ED) in controlling pathogens in hot water systems of buildings. In this project, we performed a fundamental systematic study on the effect of geometrical and operational parameters in a flask, to gather an understanding of the effect of each parameter on the rate of bacteria elimination, crucial for the design and optimization of electrolytic cells. ED prototypes were then installed in in the hot water systems of two different buildings operating at 60°C, the temperature recommended for Legionella control (HSE, 2013), and their efficacy was monitored long term. In one of the buildings, 2 to 4– log reductions in total bacteria counts was observed, while Pseudomonas species counts were reduced by 3 log. The apparent failure in the other building was due to the inadequate operation of the water system. In order to achieve the 2019 zero carbon targets for new non-domestic buildings set by the UK government, the energy demand associated with heating water needs to be addressed, but maintaining systems at such high temperatures renders difficult the use of greener technologies that could further reduce the CO2 impact of heating water. Given that ED generates disinfectants and that the Health and Safety Executive advises that if hot water is treated with biocides, water temperatures can be reduced, the efficacy of the prototype device was evaluated under laboratory conditions at temperatures between 30 and 45˚C. The prototype was found to be effective both on laboratory-grown biofilm and on planktonic Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, with 5-log reduction on bacteria counts.

This research is aimed to study the system performance for a large solar hot water system constructed by connecting a series of small domestic natural circulation systems. There are few studies on this type of large solar hot water system available. The major concern is that when circulation pump is on, there forms a short flow between inlet and outlet of each storage tank of natural circulation solar hot water unit. Therefore, water does not have chance to flow though the collector by thermosyphon and system performance can be lowered down drastically. This thesis presents the numerical simulation study for the control and system operating parameters effects on the system performance to provide important information both for users and system designers.

Heat losses are an important problem in domestic hot water circulation systems. Therefore, to reduce these losses becomes an issue of utmost importance both economically and environmentally. Nevertheless, it has not been until recent years when these losses have been studied further. Commonly studies have focused on the heat space system operation or radiator system. This study focuses on heat losses in the domestic hot water circulation through the piping system in a building at a school located in Gävle (Sweden) using non-destructive flow and temperature reading devices. The heat used by the school is provided by the district heating network that feeds several heat exchangers. The heat losses, at the same time, will be compared with simulation and theoretical procedures to corroborate them. The domestic hot water piping system of this study consists on more than 1200 meters of insulated copper pipes with different diameters and different insulation thickness. The system was measured for one week (April 26, 2015 to May 3, 2015) when there are working days and nonworking days. A 5% of the annual district heating consumption in the school was calculated as heat losses in the domestic hot water circulation system in the building studied. Finally, improvements in insulation system and changes in the domestic hot water temperature have been simulated and they demonstrate that savings of up to 35% of the heat losses can be achieved and produce significant energy savings.