Resolving the Non-Productive Periods of Solar Chimney by Integrating with Waste-to-Energy Plant

Abstract

Total global renewable energy capacity has been increasing worldwide, i.e. doubled from 2007 to 2016. The main disadvantage of most renewable energy based plants is the lack of reliability for constant electricity production. Solar chimney is a renewable based plant with a power production of near zero during the night times. In this study, we have proposed a renewable integrated cycle by combining two plants and thereafter produce a reliable amount of electricity all the time. The proposed combination is achieved by injecting outlet air from the condensers of Tehran’s waste to energy plant into the bottom of the chimney tower, just below the turbine. Tehran’s average climate data for 12 months of the year is initially obtained and the Manzanares prototype is used for the solar chimney power plant model. The solar chimney power plant is simulated with 3D CFD simulation. The final power output of the solar chimney power plant reaches 20–70 kW and increased 20%–1200%, compared to the case without injection. This means power output of solar chimney power plant is at least 20 kW in the hottest night of the year with 5% relative humidity. We have concluded that by combining these renewable based plants, one of the most important solar chimney disadvantages could be removed.