Impact of Tower Diameter on Power Output in Solar Chimney Power Plants

Abstract

Solar chimney power plants (SCPPs) are very attractive solar energy systems with low maintenance costs and zero CO2 emissions. After its first application, the Manzanares facility, numerous studies were conducted related to the impact of geometric and climatic parameters on the system. In this study, the impact of chimney diameter change on the system, which has not been adequately examined in literature, has been investigated in detail. In the 3D CFD model created with ANSYS commercial software, simulations have been conducted by using the solar ray tracing algorithm and DO (discrete ordinates) model along with RNG k-ε turbulence model. By referencing the Manzanares facility for the other geometric parameters, system behaviour has been assessed by changing the chimney diameter between 4.865-64.866 m. The impact of the change in tower diameter on the pressure and velocity distribution in the system has been analysed first in comparison with the reference situation. In addition, the influence of diameter change on the power output, mass flow rate, efficiency of the system and the average pressure difference at the turbine position has been evaluated. It has been concluded that the chimney diameter value that gives maximum performance for the Manzanares pilot plant is 24.325 m. When the chimney diameter has been configured as 24.325 m, it has been seen that the power output will improve by 85.9% compared to the reference situation and will be 101 kW. Similarly, the efficiency rises by 94% in comparison with the reference case, and becomes 0.194%.

Keywords

• Solar chimney
• Tower diameter
• Power output
• Energy analysis

Güneş Bacası Güç Santrallerinde Kule Çapının Çıkış Gücüne Etkisi

Abstract

Güneş bacası güç santralleri düşük bakım maliyetleri ve sıfır CO2 salınımları ile çok cazip güneş enerjisi sistemleridir. İlk uygulaması olan Manzanares tesisinden sonra geometrik ve iklimsel parametrelerin sisteme etkisi ile ilgili sayısız çalışma yapıldı. Bu çalışmada literatürde yeterince irdelenmeyen baca çapı değişiminin sisteme etkisi detaylı olarak incelendi. ANSYS ticari yazılımı ile oluşturulan 3 boyutlu CFD modelinde güneş ışın izleme algoritması ve DO (ayrık koordinatlar) modeli ile RNG k-ε türbülans modelleri kullanılarak simülasyonlar yapıldı. Diğer geometrik parametreler için referans tesis örnek alınarak baca çapı 4.865-64.866 m arasında değiştirilmek suretiyle sistem davranışı araştırıldı. Baca çapı değişiminin ilk olarak sistem içerisindeki basınç ve hız dağılımına etkisi referans durumla karşılaştırılarak analiz edildi. Ayrıca baca çapı değişiminin sistemin güç çıkışı, kütlesel debisi, verimi ve türbin konumunda ortalama basınç farkına etkisi değerlendirildi. Manzanares pilot tesisi için maksimum performans veren baca çapı değerinin 24.325 m olduğu sonucuna varıldı. Baca çapı 24.325 m yapıldığında referans duruma göre güç çıkışının % 85.9 artarak 101 kW olacağı tespit edildi. Benzer şekilde verim de referans duruma göre % 94 artış göstererek % 0.194 olarak hesaplandı.

Keywords

• Güneş bacası
• Kule çapı
• Çıkış gücü
• Enerji analizi

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