Abstract

The aim of this study is to present a numerical analysis on the performance of a solar chimney power plant using steady state Navier-Stokes and energy equations in cylindrical coordinate system. The fluid flow inside the chimney is assumed to be turbulent and simulated with the k-ε turbulent model, using the FLUENT software package. Numerical simulations were performed using the Spanish prototype as reference. The computed results are in good agreement with experimental measurements of Manzanares power plant. Besides, a theoretical model was proposed taking into account the kinetic energy difference within the solar collector. The effects of the main geometrical parameters of the collector and the solar radiation intensity on the air mass flow rate and the temperature rise in the collector have been investigated. The fluid and ground temperature distributions were also presented and analyzed.

Keywords:

Numerical simulation, renewable energy, solar chimney, solar energy,

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