Abstract
The present work involves a new and novel upgrading design to the classical solar chimney power plant (SCPP) structure. The SCPP design was modified by adding a co-centric secondary external chimney to the SCPP structure to enhance energy production. In the new improved design, named the solar double-chimney power plant (SDCPP), the internal chimney, operates like a traditional SCPP to produce electricity during the daytime whereas the secondary external chimney operates as 10 cooling towers (CT) in a series. Each CT is equipped with a turbine and water sprinklers for further energy production. The new design offers the operation of the SCPP during the day and the continuous operation of the CT (day-and-night). A mathematical model that includes the energy and mass balance equations of the system was built using MATLAB. The SDCPP system produced up to 993 MWh of electrical energy, which is 2.6 times higher than the traditional SCPP (377 MWh). The new design configuration achieved a percentage of thermal efficiency (%ηth) of 1.6%, which is 200 times greater than the SCPP. The economic assessment of the new system revealed a 50% reduction in the localized cost of energy (LCOE) compared with traditional SCPP. The key advantage of the new design is related to the use of low-cost material in constructing the secondary chimney to reduce the fixed capital cost and prompt the economic feasibility of the system. Overall, the proposed SDCPP offers a feasible and economic solution to produce electricity and to potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Highlights
The solar chimney power plant (SCPP) is one of the most promising technologies, with a simple design and low-cost advantages for power and desalination production [1,2]
The key advantage of the new design is related to the use of low-cost material in constructing the secondary chimney to reduce the fixed capital cost and prompt the economic feasibility of the system
The basic design of the SCPP consists of three essential modules: a solar collector, a power mechanical conversion unit, and a very long chimney
Summary
The solar chimney power plant (SCPP) is one of the most promising technologies, with a simple design and low-cost advantages for power and desalination production [1,2]. The. SCPP is the best solution to tackle the challenges of clean energy demand and freshwater shortage. SCPP is the best solution to tackle the challenges of clean energy demand and freshwater shortage It was a conceptual model until it was piloted and tested successfully in Spain during the 1980s when Schlaich built his optimized design that can produce electrical power in the range of 100–200 MW [3]. The solar radiation coming from sunlight heats the air between the solar collector and the ground. This will decrease the air’s density and increase the pressure, which in turn will significantly increase the air’s velocity. The air mass flow with high-energy content passes through the blades of the turbine, producing electrical energy
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