Numerical simulation of a solar chimney power plant in the southern region of Iran

Author

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran

Abstract

Three-dimensional numerical simulations are performed to investigate the effects of pressure drop across the turbine and solar radiance on the performance of a solar chimney power plant (SCPP). The SCPP system expected to provide electric power to a city is located in southern region of Iran (city of Lamerd, Fars province). Its dimensions are similar to the Manzanares prototype (built in Spain, 1970s). The results demonstrated that the SCPP can provide up to 40–200 KW of power, depending on the season. It was found that the turbine pressure drop and the solar radiation had significant effects on the first and second law efficiencies.

Keywords


[1] Haaf W., Solar Chimneys, Part 2, Preliminary Test Results from the Manzanares Pilot Plant, International Journal of Solar Energy (1984) 2: 141-169.
[2] Haaf W., Friedrich K., Mayr G., Schlaich J., Solar Chimneys, Part 1, Principle and Construction of the Pilot Plant in Manzanares, International Journal of Solar Energy (1983) 2: 3-20.
[3] Schlaich J., Bergermann R., Schiel W., Weinrebe G., Sustainable Electricity Generation with Solar Updraft Towers, Structural Engineering International (2003) 3: 222-229.  
[4] Pretorius J. P., Kroger D. G., Solar Chimney Plant Performance, Journal of Solar Energy (2006) 128: 302-311.
[5] Zhou X., Yang J., Xiao B., Xing F., Analysis of Chimney Height for Solar Chimney Power Plant, Applied Thermal Engineering (2009) 29(1): 178-185.
[6] Larbi S., Bouhdjar A., Chergui T., Performance Analysis of a Solar Chimney Power Plant in the Southen Region of Algeria, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (2010) 14: 470-477.
[7] Sangi R., Amidpour M., Hosseinizadeh B., Modeling and Numerical Simulation of Solar Chimney Power Plant, Solar Energy (2011) 85: 829-838.
[8] Li J. Y., Guo P.H., Wang Y., Effects of Collector Radius and Chimney Height on Power Output of a Solar Chimney Power Plant with Turbines, Renewable Energy (2012) 47: 21-28.  
[9] Xu G., Ming T., Pan Y., Meng F., Zhou C., Numerical Analysis of the Performance of Solar Chimney Power Plant System, Energy Conversion and Management (2011) 52: 876-883.
[10] Maia C. B., Ferreira A. G., Valle R. M., Cortez M. F. B., Theoretical Evaluation of the Influence of Geometric Parameters and Materials on the Behavior of the Air Flow in a Solar Chimney, Computers and Fluids (2009) 38: 625-636.
[11] Lebbi M., Chergui T., Boualit H., Boutina I., Influence of Geometric Parameters on the Hydrodynamics Control of Solar Chimney, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2014) 39: 15246-15255.
[12] Lee D. S., Hung T. C., Lin J. R., Zhao J., Experimental Investigations on Solar Chimney for Optimal Heat Collection to be Utilized in Organic Rankine Cycle, Applied Energy (2015) 154: 651-662.
[13] Sudprasert S., Chinsorranant C., Rattanadecho P., Numerical Study of Vertical Solar Chimneys with Moist Air in a Hot and Humid Climate, Intenational Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer (2016) 102: 645-656.
[14] Guo P., Li J., Wang Y., Liu Y., Numerical Analysis of the Optimal Turbine Pressure Drop Ratio in a Solar Chimney Power Plant, Solar Energy (2013) 98: 42-48.