A Numerical Study on the Improvement of the Thermal Performance of a Solar Chimney Power Plant with Variation in the Absorber

The concept of using flue gas waste heat as a backup in a solar chimney power plant is driven by the objective of solar chimney plant performance enhancement. This paper presents experimental results of thermal field of hybrid solar-flue-gas chimney power plant at different mode (solar mode, hybrid mode and flue gas mode). The experimental test rig consisted of two inclined absorber plate and diffuser surface with total area of 3.15 m2, flue gas channel (1m × 3m × 0.05m), greenhouse (air flow channel of 1m × 3m × 0.16m at inlet and 1m × 3m × 0.075m at exit), chimney of diameter 0.15m and height of 4m, flue gas inlet diffuser (1m × 0.3m × 0.05m) and flue-gas source (biomass burner coupled with centrifugal blower powered using a variable speed motor). The temperature distribution in the hybrid solar-flue gas chimney power plant test-rig was measured. Temperature difference between the chimney base (absorber plate exit air) and the ambient were studied which is the driving force in solar chimney power plant. On solar mode, the driving force (temperature difference between the absorber plate exit air and the ambient air) gave a maximum ΔT of 27.6 °C at irradiance of 797 W/m2. With flue gas as thermal backup during the day, maximum ΔT reached 38.1°C for inlet flue-gas temperature of 101.6 °C and irradiance of 672 W/m2, with flue gas as the only source of thermal energy (night mode), the temperature difference, ΔT, got up to 25.9 °C at a flue-gas inlet temperature of 107.6 °C. The solar mode experiment carried out after night mode experiment shows that the ΔT of the system the next day was enhanced as the temperature difference increased from sunrise contrary to the low temperature raise experienced on normal solar day.

Analysis and feasibility of implementing solar chimney power plants in the Mediterranean region

Comparison of conventional solar chimney power plants and sloped solar chimney power plants using second law analysis

Limited fossil fuel resources and associated environmental concerns require alternatively sustainable and economically feasible electricity generation technologies. Solar chimney power plants utilize solar thermal energy to generate electricity. Floating Solar Chimney Power Plant (FSCPP), a variant of solar chimney power plant using rubber as the materials for the chimney, has attracted significant attention due to relatively longer project life. In Bangladesh, the electricity demand is increasing with the increase of population and the living standard. Supplying this large electricity demand with the existing energy resources are getting challenging day by day. As a result, the policymakers are opting for alternative energy sources that will ensure fulfilling this ever-increasing electricity demand. In this regard, renewable energy sources are considered as feasible alternatives in rural and coastal areas with limited or no access to the grid. A solar chimney power plant is considered a promising technology for large scale utilization of solar thermal energy. In this power plant, solar radiation is utilized to heat the air enclosed beneath transparent solar collectors and the ground. Driven by density difference, the hot air flows towards the chimney and rotates the generator placed within. In this work, upon briefly discussing the construction of such power plants, the economic analysis is presented for a 100 MW floating chimney power plant and compared with the commonly used concrete solar chimney power plant (CSCPP) and the existing fossil fuel power plants. The results suggest the FSCPP power plants can generate electricity at a much lower cost than CSCPP power plants. Also, FSCPP power plants are economically competitive with existing HFO based power plants (0.131 USD/kWh) and are inexpensive compared to HSD based power plants (0.241 USD/kWh) in terms of cost of electricity generated.

Design and performance analysis of solar chimney power plant (SCPP): A review

Numerical investigation of solar chimney power plants performance for Saudi Arabia weather conditions

Efficiency enhancement of solar chimney power plant by use of waste heat from nuclear power plant

Solar chimney power plant performance in Iran

Design and simulation of a geothermal–solar combined chimney power plant

Performance of solar chimney power plant in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Reliable renewable power production by modeling of geothermal assisted solar chimney power plant

Computational and experimental studies on solar chimney power plants for power generation in Pacific Island countries

A novel design of a twin-chimney solar power plant for power and distilled water production

Design and simulation of the solar chimney power plants with TRNSYS

This research presents a comprehensive review of solar chimney power plants (SCPP) as a reliable source of renewable electricity generation. Solar chimney power plants differ from other renewable energy technologies because thermal and momentum effects result in 24-h electricity generation. However, they are influenced by a wide range of design, geometrical and operational parameters, and environmental conditions. This review evaluates the design aspects and the theoretical, numerical, experimental, and performance findings in previous works holistically and concisely. The study also extensively discusses the various optimization strategies, advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of solar chimney power plants. Energy storage aspects and hybrid system designs are also addressed in the present review in order to overcome the known handicaps and limitations of solar chimney power plants. The performance figures of the technology are clearly demonstrated as a function of the design and operational conditions, and future prospects are discussed in detail. It is hoped that designers and policymakers will gain valuable insight into the technological features and advancements of solar chimney power plants, assisting them in making a better-informed decision.