Assessment of solar chimney power plant Performance under various parameters

Abstract

This numerical study primarily seeks to illustrate that the power output of a solar chimney is determined by the equilibrium between a geometry designed to enhance thermal draft and a turbulence model that faithfully captures the physics of the flow. Several turbulence models were used to evaluate their ability to simulate flows and heat transfer within the solar chimney. A Discrete Ordinates approach was adopted to solve the radiative transfer equation and to refine performance predictions and guide the optimization of geometric and thermal parameters. The most appropriate RNG k-ε turbulence model highlighted notable differences in the distribution of dynamic and thermal fields compared to other turbulence models used. For example, the maximum variation compared to the standard k-ε model reached 0.47 m/s for velocity, 6.55 m²/s² for temperature and 15.07 K for turbulent kinetic energy. Additionally, the study highlighted the critical impact of geometric parameters on solar chimney performance. Increasing the height of the solar chimney by 25% to 50%, for example, could boost power output by 26 % to 52 %. These results highlight key areas for improvement, paving the way for a more efficient design of this type of energy system.