Performance enhancement and optimization of solar chimney power plant integrated with transparent photovoltaic cells and desalination method

Abstract

This study proposed two novel configurations of Conventional Solar Chimney Power Plants (CSCP) integrated with transparent PV cells (PVSCP) and saline water desalination (PVDSCP) method to improve utilization of solar energy and land resource. Mathematical models were developed for each configuration and validation of CSCP was performed with experimental results. Results showed that majority of data points are within error band of ±15%. Comparative study of CSCP, PVSCP and PVDSCP exhibited that PVDSCP outperforms others with significantly larger collector and plant efficiencies. PVDSCP collector efficiency was 26.13% and 21.92% higher compared to CSCP and PVSCP respectively. Parametric studies of key inputs showed that all geometry parameters and operating conditions have significant effects on plant efficiency and should be considered in optimization. DIRECT optimization of plant efficiency demonstrated that PVDSCP efficiency was 37.15% and 36.1% higher than optimized CSCP and PVSCP respectively. Implementation of proposed optimized configurations as PVSCP and PVDSCP can enhance the plant efficiency of the original Manzanares pilot plant relatively by 55.97% and 71.8% respectively. These systems can be used for performance enhancement of CSCP with advantages of relatively high plant efficiency, endless capacity, simple structure, low cost and no pollution.