Studies on divergent solar chimney subjected to variable collector configurartions

ABSTRACT

In this study, Numerical and Experimental analysis of flow inside a divergent Solar Chimney is carried out. A solar chimney is a power generation system that uses the greenhouse effect to generate greener electricity. Electrical energy will be developed through this system by converting the thermal energy obtained from solar radiation. In order to successfully implement Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) in highly urbanized places, this paper aims to provide a databas. In this study, the performance of theSCPP with different collector configurations with a constant chimney divergence angle of 2 degrees is analyzed. Numerical simulation and experimental studies are performed for the Solar Chimney Power Plant with 1:1.22 (chimney length to collector diameter ratio) is taken for chimney and convergent, half convergent, divergent, and half divergent considered for collector configurations. Experimentations are carried out in an open atmosphere, where a hot wire anemometer and thermocouples measure velocity and temperature. A partially convergent collector with a 10-degree divergence configuration performed better than the other three models based on the computational and experimental results. The maximum velocity obtained for this model is 1.5 m/s with a temperature rise of 14K.

KEYWORDS:

• Solar Chimney Power plant
• convergent collector
• divergent collector
• divergent chimney
• RSM

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Nomenclature

ρ	=	Density (kg/m3)
A	=	Area
V	=	Velocity
u	=	Initial velocity
t	=	Time
et	=	Heat transfer
$\mu$	=	:Coefficient of viscosity
T0	=	Reference buoyancy temperature
g	=	Acceleration due to gravity
$\beta$	=	Expansion rate
${\rho }_0$	=	Ambient density
Pout	=	Power output
$T$	=	Temperature difference
Ta	=	Ambient Temperature
$\overrightarrow{F_b}$	=	Body force
S	=	Entropy
SCPP	=	Solar Chimney Power Plant
FCFD	=	Full Convergent Full Divergent
FDFD	=	Full Divergent Full Divergent
HCFD	=	Half Convergent Full Divergent
HDFD	=	Half Divergent Full Divergent
$\dot{m}$	=	Mass flow rate
SUPP	=	Solar Updraft Power Plant