Replies

1. 
   homedesign | Jun 08, 2013 01:58pm | #1

   I'm not advocating for water storage tanks in all buildings or for all climates.

   It's the distinct stratification of Fluid Layers that I find interesting.
   (Air is also a fluid)

2. 
   homedesign | Jun 08, 2013 02:09pm | #2

   Stratification and Buoyancy are also at play with the "Bobby Darin" Effect
   http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-064-bobby-darin-thermal-performance/files/BSI-064_Bobby_Darin_and_Thermal_Performance_rev.pdf

3. 
   user-659915 | Jun 08, 2013 03:40pm | #3

   Takes a steady hand...

   
4. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Jun 08, 2013 04:11pm | #4

   This is observable any time you go swimming in a Vermont lake in June. Just dive down and feel the stratification.

   Without thermal stratification, tank-type water heaters wouldn't deliver hot water.

5. 
   user-659915 | Jun 08, 2013 04:15pm | #5

   I experienced a small earthquake in Greece one time. It was August. The next morning the top layer of the Aegean was icy cold. Took three days to return to its normal balmy state.

6. 
   homedesign | Jun 08, 2013 04:15pm | #6

   Hi James,
   I have looked at many of the fluid layering experiments
   where different fluids are stacked

   it also works with the same fluid at different temperatures

   A cool fluid can support a warm fluid
   A warm fluid can not support a cool fluid

   You can see the "Internal Wave" in the Hot over Cold example.

   I've also seen the boundary(between densities) referred as a thermocline
   the thermocline forms a physical barrier to mixing

   
7. 
   homedesign | Jun 08, 2013 04:37pm | #7

   In Thorsten's example it's not surprising that the warmest water is at the top of the tank.
   For me ...it's interesting that the warmest water remains in a VERY compact "zone"....
   and there can be a distinct boundary between zones.

8. 
   heinblod | Jun 08, 2013 04:40pm | #8

   The laws of physics, always a note worth :)