Numerical–analytical assessment on Manzanares prototype

Abstract

In this study an appropriate expression to estimate the output power of solar chimney power plant systems (SCPPS) was considered. Recently several mathematical models of SCPPS were derived, studied for a variety of boundary conditions, and compared against CFD calculations. An important concern for modeling SCPPS is the accuracy of the derived pressure drop and output power equation. To elucidate the matter, axisymmetric CFD analysis was performed to model the solar chimney power plant and calculate the output power for different available solar radiation. Both analytical and numerical results were compared against the available experimental data from the historical Manzanares power plant. We also evaluated the fidelity of the assumptions underlying the derivation and present the output power characteristics of Manzanares prototype under a range of solar irradiation, mass flow rate and collector efficiency. This research provides an approach to estimate the output power with respect to available radiation to the collector.