This paper evaluates the performance of a large-scale solar chimney power plant. The study considers the performance of a particular reference plant under specified meteorological conditions at a reference location in South Africa. A computer simulation program is employed to solve the governing conservation and draught equations simultaneously. Newly developed convective heat transfer and momentum equations are included in the numerical model and multiple simulations are performed. Results indicate 24hr plant power production, while illustrating considerable daily and seasonal power output variations. It is shown that plant power production is a function of the collector roof shape and inlet height.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
solar power stations, heat transfer, momentum, numerical analysis
Topics:
Computer simulation, Convection, Momentum, Power stations, Roofs, Solar energy, Shear stress
1.
Haaf
,
W.
,
Friedrich
,
K.
,
Mayr
,
G.
, and
Schlaich
,
J.
, 1983, “
Solar Chimneys, Part I: Principle and Construction of the Pilot Plant in Manzanares
,”
Int. J. Sol. Energy
0142-5919,
2
, pp.
3
–
20
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
2.
Haaf
,
W.
, 1984, “
Solar Chimneys, Part II: Preliminary Test Results From the Manzanares Pilot Plant
,”
Int. J. Sol. Energy
0142-5919,
2
, pp.
141
–
161
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
3.
Schlaich
,
J.
, 1994,
The Solar Chimney: Electricity From the Sun
,
Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt
,
Stuttgart
.
4.
Pasumarthi
,
N.
, and
Sherif
,
S. A.
, 1998, “
Experimental and Theoretical Performance of a Demonstration Solar Chimney Model—Part I: Mathematical Model Development
,”
Int. J. Energy Res.
0363-907X,
22
(
3
), pp.
277
–
288
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
5.
Pasumarthi
,
N.
, and
Sherif
,
S. A.
, 1998, “
Experimental and Theoretical Performance of a Demonstration Solar Chimney Model—Part II: Experimental and Theoretical Results and Economic Analysis
,”
Int. J. Energy Res.
0363-907X,
22
(
5
), pp.
443
–
461
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
6.
Kröger
,
D. G.
, and
Buys
,
J. D.
, 2001, “
Performance Evaluation of a Solar Chimney Power Plant
,”
ISES 2001 Solar World Congress
,
Adelaide
, Australia.
7.
Gannon
,
A. J.
, and
Von Backström
,
T. W.
, 2002, “
Controlling and Maximizing Solar Chimney Power Output
,”
1st International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics
,
Kruger Park
, South Africa.
8.
Gannon
,
A. J.
, and
Von Backström
,
T. W.
, 2003, “
Solar Chimney Turbine Performance
,”
ASME J. Sol. Energy Eng.
0199-6231,
125
, pp.
101
–
106
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
9.
Bernardes
,
M. A.
,
dos
,
S.
,
Voß
,
A.
, and
Weinrebe
,
G.
, 2003, “
Thermal and Technical Analyses of Solar Chimneys
,”
Sol. Energy
0038-092X,
75
(
6
), pp.
511
–
524
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
10.
Pretorius
,
J. P.
,
Kröger
,
D. G.
,
Buys
,
J. D.
, and
Von Backström
,
T. W.
, 2004, “
Solar Tower Power Plant Performance Characteristics
,”
Proceedings of ISES EuroSun2004 International Sonnenforum
, Vol.
1
,
Freiburg
,
Germany
, PSE GmbH, Freiburg, pp.
870
–
879
.
11.
Pretorius
,
J. P.
, 2004, “
Solar Tower Power Plant Performance Characteristics
,” M.Sc.Eng. thesis, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
12.
Hedderwick
,
R. A.
, 2001, “
Performance Evaluation of a Solar Chimney Power Plant
,” M.Sc.Eng. thesis, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
13.
Kröger
,
D. G.
, and
Burger
,
M.
, 2004, “
Experimental Convection Heat Transfer Coefficient on a Horizontal Surface Exposed to the Natural Environment
,”
Proceedings of ISES EuroSun2004 International Sonnenforum
, Vol.
1
,
Freiburg
,
Germany
, PSE GmbH, Freiburg, pp.
422
–
430
.
14.
Burger
,
M.
, 2005, “
Prediction of the Temperature Distribution in Asphalt Pavement Samples
,” M.Sc.Eng. thesis, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
15.
Berdahl
,
P.
, and
Fromberg
,
R.
, 1982, “
The Thermal Radiance of Clear Skies
,”
Sol. Energy
0038-092X,
29
(
4
), pp.
299
–
314
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
16.
Kröger
,
D. G.
, 2004,
Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers and Cooling Towers
,
Pennwell Corp.
,
Tulsa
.
17.
White
,
F. M.
, 1999,
Fluid Mechanics
, 4th ed.,
McGraw-Hill
,
New York
.
18.
Haaland
,
S. E.
, 1983, “
Simple and Explicit Formulas for the Friction Factor in Turbulent Pipe Flow
,”
ASME J. Fluids Eng.
0098-2202,
185
(
3
), pp.
89
–
90
.
19.
Modest
,
M. F.
, 1993,
Radiative Heat Transfer
,
McGraw-Hill
,
New York
.
20.
Duffie
,
J. A.
, and
Beckman
,
W. A.
, 1991,
Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes
, 2nd ed.,
Wiley
,
New York
.
21.
Mills
,
A. F.
, 1995,
Heat and Mass Transfer
,
Richard D. Irwin Inc.
,
Boston
.
22.
Du Preez
,
A. F.
, 1992, “
The Influence of Cross-Winds on the Performance of Natural Draft Cooling Towers
,” Ph.D. thesis, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Copyright © 2006
 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.