Effect of the collector diameter on solar chimney power plants

Abstract

Solar Chimney Power Plants (SCPP) consists of three main components: solar collector, chimney and the turbine. Air under the collector is heated by the greenhouse effect, the air density is reduced and the air rises toward the chimney at the center of the collector. Thus, electricity is produced by the turbine located at the entrance of the chimney. In this study, a Solar Chimney Power Plants (SCPP) system, 15 m in height, 0.8 m in diameter of chimney, a 0.004 m thick transparent glass floor and a collector having maximum of 27 m in diameter, has been established into Adiyaman University campus area at 669 altitude of Adiyaman province placed over 38 degrees 11' - 37 degrees 25' north latitude and 39 degrees 14' - 37 degrees 31' east longitude at Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia region. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the collector diameters on air flow rate and temperature in the chimney by using mathematical theories. For this purpose at certain times of the day, air flow rate and temperature in the chimney, ambient temperature, ambient air velocity, surface temperature of collector and solar radiation values of Adiyaman are measured and evaluated for collectors having different diameters. As a result, collector having large diameter means more solar energy. As the collector area grows, the ground temperature increases %35-55 compared to ambient temperature and at further studies, it is observed that temperature and air flow rate at the point turbine placed (C-2) increase quickly as diameter of collector increases.