Numerical simulation of the solar chimney power plant systems coupled with turbine

Abstract

Numerical simulations have been carried out on the solar chimney power plant systems coupled with turbine. The whole system has been divided into three regions: the collector, the chimney and the turbine, and the mathematical models of heat transfer and flow have been set up for these regions. Using the Spanish prototype as a practical example, numerical simulation results for the prototype with a 3-blade turbine show that the maximum power output of the system is a little higher than 50 kW. Furthermore, the effect of the turbine rotational speed on the chimney outlet parameters has been analyzed which shows the validity of the numerical method advanced by the author. Thereafter, design and simulation of a MW-graded solar chimney power plant system with a 5-blade turbine have been presented, and the numerical simulation results show that the power output and turbine efficiency are 10 MW and 50%, respectively, which presents a reference to the design of large-scale solar chimney power plant systems.