scholarly journals Flow Through a Solar Chimney Power Plant Collector-to-Chimney Transition Section

Author(s):  
Carl F. Kirstein ◽  
Theodor W. von Backstro¨m ◽  
Detlev G. Kro¨ger

A solar chimney power plant consists of a large greenhouse type collector surrounding a tall chimney. The air, heated within the collector, passes through an inlet guide vane (IGV) cascade and then through a transition section to a turbine that powers a generator. The transition section contains the turbine inlet guide vanes that support the whole chimney and guides the flow entering the turbine. The primary objective of the study was to determine the loss coefficient of this section as dependent on IGV stagger angle and collector roof height. Very good agreement was found between experimental values measured in a scaled model and commercial CFD code predictions of flow angles, velocity components and internal and wall static pressures. The agreement between measured and predicted total pressure loss coefficient was reasonable. The CFD code served to extend the predictions to a proposed full-scale geometry.

2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 312-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl F. Kirstein ◽  
Theodor W. von Backström

A solar chimney power plant consists of a large greenhouse-type collector surrounding a tall chimney. The air, heated within the collector, passes through an inlet guide vane (IGV)cascade and then through a transition section to a turbine that powers a generator. The transition section contains the turbine inlet guide vanes that support the whole chimney and guides the flow entering the turbine. The primary objective of the study was to determine the loss coefficient and mean exit swirl angle of the flow passing through the collector-to-chimney transition section of a full-scale solar chimney power plant as dependent on IGV stagger angle and collector roof height. Very good agreement was found between experimental values measured in a scaled model and commercial CFD code predictions of flow angles, velocity components, and internal and wall static pressures. The agreement between measured and predicted total pressure loss coefficient was reasonable when considering how small it is. The CFD code served to extend the predictions to a proposed full-scale geometry. Semi-empirical equations were developed to predict the loss coefficient and turbine mean inlet flow angles of solar chimney power plants as dependent on collector deck height and inlet guide vane setting angle. The two empirical equations may be useful in solar chimney plant optimization studies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinping Zhou ◽  
Yangyang Xu

This technical brief develops a theoretical model of all the pressure losses in the solar chimney power plant (SCPP, also called solar updraft power plant) and analyzes the pressure losses for different chimney internal stiffening appurtenance (SA) structures, different roof heights, and different collector support parameters. Results show that the exit dynamic pressure drop (EDPD) accounts for the majority of the total pressure loss (TPL), while other losses constitute only small proportions of the TPL, and the collector inlet loss is negligible. Pressure losses are strongly related to the mass flow rate, while reasonable mass flow rates excluding too low flow rates have little influence on the pressure loss ratios (PLRs, defined as the ratios of the pressure losses to the TPL) and the total effective pressure loss coefficient (TEPLC). Designing of the SA structure in view of reducing the drag, for example, using the ring stiffeners without wire spoked instead of the spoked bracing wheels (SBWs), reducing the width of the chimney internal rims of SAs, or reducing the number of SAs results in large reduction of the SA PLR and the TPL. Lower roof leading to higher velocity inside the collector, larger supports, or shorter intersupport distance leads to the increase in the support PLR. This technical brief lays a solid foundation for optimization of SCPPs in future.


Author(s):  
Sellami Ali ◽  
Benlahcene Djaouida ◽  
Abdelmoumène Hakim Benmachiche ◽  
Zeroual Aouachria

Author(s):  
Sreelekha Arun

The energy consumption on global scale is continuously increasing, resulting in rapid use of energy resources available. Solar chimney power generation technology hence began to get growing attention as its basic model needs no depleting resources like fossil fuels for its functioning but only uses sunlight and air as a medium. It takes the advantage of the chimney effect and the temperature difference in the collector that produces negative pressure to cause the airflow in the system, converting solar energy into mechanical energy in order to drive the air turbine generator situated at the base of the chimney. Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) brings together the solar thermal technology, thermal storage technology, chimney technology and air turbine power generation technology. However, studies have shown that even if the chimney is as high as 1000 m, the efficiency achievable is only around 3%. Hence, this review paper intents to put together the new technological advancement that aims to improve the efficiency of SCPP.


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