IMPROVING THERMAL AND COMBUSTION PERFORMANCE OF GAS WATER TANK GEYSERS USING BAFFLES

Abstract

Enhancing the thermal and combustion performance of gas water tank geysers is vital for improving energy efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. This study evaluates seven baffle configurations—baseline (no baffle), strip, cylindrical, conical, finned conical, frustum, and bladed frustum—on the geyser’s performance. Experimental results show that structured baffles significantly improve heat transfer, optimize fuel-air mixing, and lower fuel usage. The bladed frustum baffle achieved the highest thermal efficiency at 69.03%, outperforming the conical baffle (61.24%) by 7.79% and reducing gas consumption by 8.4%. The frustum baffle also demonstrated notable gains, with a 5.83% increase in thermal efficiency (67.07%), a 6.49% reduction in gas consumption, and a 3.99% higher combustion efficiency (69%) compared to the conical baffle (65.01%), indicating superior heat retention and fuel utilization. However, the bladed frustum baffle showed a slight 0.61% drop in combustion efficiency (64.4%) due to increased stack temperature and altered combustion dynamics. Overall, the frustum baffle offers the best balance of enhanced thermal efficiency, stable combustion, and fuel savings, providing valuable insights for optimizing gas-fired heating systems in residential settings.