Solar Updraft Tower Power Plant Research Articles

The first pilot demonstration: solar updraft tower power plant in Jordan

The high cost of importing heavy fuel oil from neighbouring countries of Jordan stimulated the need to consider renewable energy as an alternative to imported power. The paper describes a systematic experimental study on the pilot solar updraft tower power plant model system. Particular attention is given to measurements of air velocity, temperature, solar radiation and voltage difference. This is the first pilot solar updraft power plant that has been built in Jordan to evaluate such technology in Mutah Area. In this paper, all the experimental data were taken from a very small pilot project (compared with other prototypes that we constructed which were placed in the backyard of our faculty). For the experimental part, the solar updraft power plant was a pilot project with an updraft power plant height H=4(m), updraft power plant radius R c=0.29(m), plastic solar collector area A coll=36(m2), collector roof height=1(m), wind turbine that was a compensation of the suction fan with a diameter D fan=0.5(m), and a small generator (6 V) The experimental results in this paper show that the maximum height (H max) gradually increases with the solar irradiation (G). Also, in the same way, with the pressure difference (Δ p) increases with solar irradiation.

Influence of atmospheric cross flow on solar updraft tower inflow

A model of correlating atmospheric cross flow and the fluid flow inside a solar updraft tower (SUT) was presented by assuming SUT inflow as a compressible flow. The influence of atmospheric cross flow on SUT inflow was studied using the model. Results showed that atmospheric cross flow had a large influence on SUT inflow, and the SUT inlet air velocity approximately equaled to 26% of cross flow velocity for collector air temperature rise ΔT=0°C. With an increase in atmospheric cross flow velocity, the fluid flow velocity inside SUT was found to increase. The enlargement effect of pressure potential and SUT inlet air velocity induced by atmospheric cross flow increased with higher SUT height, but decreased with higher temperature rise, which is proportional to collector area. The percentage enlargement for cross flow to the pressure potential was between 67% and 102% and that to the SUT inlet air velocity was between 33% and 48%, for H varying from 100m to 3000m and ΔT=20°C. The enlargement drastically decreased for ΔT varying from 0°C to 80°C for H=900m. The work would lay a good foundation for accurate predication of potential power production from SUT power plants by considering the effect of atmospheric cross flow.

Design of Commercial Solar Updraft Tower Systems—Utilization of Solar Induced Convective Flows for Power Generation

A solar updraft tower power plant—sometimes also called “solar chimney” or just “solar tower”—is a solar thermal power plant utilizing a combination of solar air collector and central updraft tube to generate a solar induced convective flow which drives pressure staged turbines to generate electricity. The paper presents theory, practical experience, and economy of solar updraft towers: First a simplified theory of the solar tower is described. Then results from designing, building and operating a small scale prototype in Spain are presented. Eventually technical issues and basic economic data for future commercial solar tower systems like the one being planned for Australia are discussed.