A vortex-type solar updraft power-desalination integrated system

Abstract

In this paper, the convection vortex theory is combined with the existing solar chimney power plant combined with desalination (SCPPCSD), and a solar vortex power desalination system (SVPDS) is proposed. In SVPDS, the strong cyclone column generated by the convection vortex is used to replace the solid chimney. The physical model and three-dimensional numerical model of SVPDS are built. The flow field distributions in the solar vortex power plant (SVPP) and SVPDS under no-load condition are compared and analyzed, and the distribution rules of each parameter along the radial and axial direction and output performance are obtained. The results show that the simulation field has strong rotation characteristics, and there is obviously a low pressure area in the center of SVPDS, which enables the system to continuously draw in surrounding air, thus forming a stable vortex flow field. The maximum negative pressure of vortex center in SVPDS is −126.98 Pa, and the hourly freshwater output is about 7.92136 ton/h. Due to the sucking effect of vortex, the radial distributions of temperature and negative pressure at different heights both decrease from the center to the surrounding. With the increase of height, the temperature of central airflow, the pressure difference between the vortex center and the external environment are both decreasing, and finally close to the external environment. The vortex core structure can be obviously seen in the center, and the tangential velocity distribution is more consistent with the distribution of the Rankine combined vortex. The tangential velocity slowly decreases with the increase of height and then transforms into axial velocity. The temperature, vortex center negative pressure and tangential velocity in SVPDS are all slightly smaller than those of SVPP. With the increase of solar irradiance, the freshwater output and the vortex center maximum negative pressure both increase significantly.