Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Water Storage Tanks Using Pigmented Recycled Concrete
The present work investigated the manufacture of elements such as water tanks from recycled concrete for applications where industries require water heating. This proposal leverages precast rejects for recycled concrete and incorporates colouring pigments. It is expected to contribute to the circula...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/5/1008 |
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| author | Jorge López-Rebollo Ignacio Martín Nieto Cristina Sáez Blázquez Susana Del Pozo Diego González-Aguilera |
| author_facet | Jorge López-Rebollo Ignacio Martín Nieto Cristina Sáez Blázquez Susana Del Pozo Diego González-Aguilera |
| author_sort | Jorge López-Rebollo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present work investigated the manufacture of elements such as water tanks from recycled concrete for applications where industries require water heating. This proposal leverages precast rejects for recycled concrete and incorporates colouring pigments. It is expected to contribute to the circularity of construction materials (due to the total replacement of natural aggregates by recycled aggregates) as well as to energy and emissions savings, which are attributed to improved thermal performance driven by the thermal behaviour that the coloration pigment gives to the manufactured concrete elements. To assess the efficacy of the proposed solution, on the one hand, mechanical tests were carried out in tensile, compression and modulus of elasticity, which showed a suitable concrete dosage for HA-30 structural concrete. Simultaneously, in search for a material that would increase the internal temperature of the tanks, thermal tests were carried out in a controlled laboratory environment on samples with different percentages of pigment, and an optimum concentration of 1% was obtained. It was also found that the thermal conductivity remained almost unaffected. Finally, two water tank prototypes were manufactured and tested under real environmental conditions: one with the optimised pigment concentration solution and other (the reference tank) without pigment. The results revealed that the colourised tank with the optimal concentration resulted in an average water temperature increase of 2 °C with respect to the reference tank. Finally, the economic and environmental benefits of this temperature increase were studied for industrial processes requiring water heating with a potential saving of 8625 kWh per month. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:25:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-55db72e64fa2407db6bf77e928701b2f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:25:24Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-55db72e64fa2407db6bf77e928701b2f2024-03-12T16:48:55ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442024-02-01175100810.3390/ma17051008Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Water Storage Tanks Using Pigmented Recycled ConcreteJorge López-Rebollo0Ignacio Martín Nieto1Cristina Sáez Blázquez2Susana Del Pozo3Diego González-Aguilera4Department of Cartographic and Land Engineering, Higher Polytechnic School of Ávila, University of Salamanca, Hornos Caleros, 50, 05003 Ávila, SpainDepartment of Cartographic and Land Engineering, Higher Polytechnic School of Ávila, University of Salamanca, Hornos Caleros, 50, 05003 Ávila, SpainDepartment of Cartographic and Land Engineering, Higher Polytechnic School of Ávila, University of Salamanca, Hornos Caleros, 50, 05003 Ávila, SpainDepartment of Cartographic and Land Engineering, Higher Polytechnic School of Ávila, University of Salamanca, Hornos Caleros, 50, 05003 Ávila, SpainDepartment of Cartographic and Land Engineering, Higher Polytechnic School of Ávila, University of Salamanca, Hornos Caleros, 50, 05003 Ávila, SpainThe present work investigated the manufacture of elements such as water tanks from recycled concrete for applications where industries require water heating. This proposal leverages precast rejects for recycled concrete and incorporates colouring pigments. It is expected to contribute to the circularity of construction materials (due to the total replacement of natural aggregates by recycled aggregates) as well as to energy and emissions savings, which are attributed to improved thermal performance driven by the thermal behaviour that the coloration pigment gives to the manufactured concrete elements. To assess the efficacy of the proposed solution, on the one hand, mechanical tests were carried out in tensile, compression and modulus of elasticity, which showed a suitable concrete dosage for HA-30 structural concrete. Simultaneously, in search for a material that would increase the internal temperature of the tanks, thermal tests were carried out in a controlled laboratory environment on samples with different percentages of pigment, and an optimum concentration of 1% was obtained. It was also found that the thermal conductivity remained almost unaffected. Finally, two water tank prototypes were manufactured and tested under real environmental conditions: one with the optimised pigment concentration solution and other (the reference tank) without pigment. The results revealed that the colourised tank with the optimal concentration resulted in an average water temperature increase of 2 °C with respect to the reference tank. Finally, the economic and environmental benefits of this temperature increase were studied for industrial processes requiring water heating with a potential saving of 8625 kWh per month.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/5/1008pigmented concreterecycled concretethermographic propertiesheat storagewater tank |
| spellingShingle | Jorge López-Rebollo Ignacio Martín Nieto Cristina Sáez Blázquez Susana Del Pozo Diego González-Aguilera Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Water Storage Tanks Using Pigmented Recycled Concrete Materials pigmented concrete recycled concrete thermographic properties heat storage water tank |
| title | Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Water Storage Tanks Using Pigmented Recycled Concrete |
| title_full | Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Water Storage Tanks Using Pigmented Recycled Concrete |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Water Storage Tanks Using Pigmented Recycled Concrete |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Water Storage Tanks Using Pigmented Recycled Concrete |
| title_short | Enhancing Thermal Efficiency in Water Storage Tanks Using Pigmented Recycled Concrete |
| title_sort | enhancing thermal efficiency in water storage tanks using pigmented recycled concrete |
| topic | pigmented concrete recycled concrete thermographic properties heat storage water tank |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/5/1008 |
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