Comparative Analysis of Solar Chimney Power Plant Chimney Design: Performance Evaluation and Material Cost Comparison

Abstract

Abstract: This paper investigates different configurations of solar chimney design in a solar chimney power plant system. Mathematical analysis of the system has been done in Ansys software. The results of the maximum (inlet) velocity, pressure, efficiency, and temperature of the air are obtained for base type, convergent, divergent, sudden contraction, and sudden expansion types of chimneys. Furthermore, the electrical power output of Solar Chimney Power Plants has been determined for different chimney types. In this analysis, one Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) with a solar collector diameter of 258 m and a chimney height of 197 meters and outlet diameter of 10 m has been taken as the basis. It has been found that sudden expansion and divergent types of chimneys give higher output power than the other types of chimneys. Also, while calculating the cost of materials of the different types of chimneys, it has been found that the sudden expansion type of chimneys is costing less than other types of chimneys. When power output was compared, it was found that the sudden expansion type of chimney gives higher output than other chimneys. Detailed simulation, testing, and analysis are necessary to consolidate the results.