Estimation of flow parameters and power potential of solar vortex engine (SVE) by varying its geometrical configurations: A numerical study

Abstract

Solar vortex engine (SVE) is a novel concept for creating artificial vortices and airflow using solar energy. The working principle of SVE is similar to the solar updraft tower (SUT) plant, but SVE replaces the chimney of SUT plant. SVE consists of air entry slots (AES), guide blades and top and base plates having an outlet and base holes, respectively. In the present study, a 3D model of SVE with an external bounding structure (EBS) was developed to evaluate the flow parameters and visualize the flow and vortex generation inside the domain. The flow parameters were estimated by varying the top-hole diameter (0.2–0.5 m) and increasing inlet velocity at AES (0.2–0.7 m/s). The increase in top hole diameter from 0.2 to 0.5 m, flow parameters enhanced significantly and reached a maximum at 0.3 m and after it decreased. Higher inlet air velocity at AES enhanced flow parameters significantly. The optimum height was 0.702 m from base plate (0.1 m from the top plate) as it had the maximum velocity of 4.4 m/s and vorticity of 73.9 s−1, so that a turbine can be fixed at this location to harness maximum energy. The average velocity, temperature, dynamic pressure, theoretical and actual powers of SVE with EBS for optimum case (top hole diameter of 0.3 m, inlet velocity at AES of 0.7 m/s) were 1.4 m/s, 311.1 K, 1.6 Pa, 3.5 and 2.3 W, respectively. The preliminary study results shown that, SVE is one of the potential options to replace the chimney of SUT plant for generating electric power.