Modeling of geometry alteration effect on the performance of a solar chimney power plant (SCPP)

In this paper a solar chimney power plant (SCPP) equipped with phase change materials (PCMs) with 10 mcollector diameter and 12 m chimney height were modeled in order to investigate the effect of geometry on the overallperformance and efficiency of the chimney. The sun radiation is simulated by a boundary heat source with the flux of700 W/m2 and the paraffin wax RT42 was used as a Latent Heat Storage (LHS) material at the bottom of the chimneyabsorber.It was observed that by the use of inclined Encapsulated Phase Change Materials (EPCMs) based on the latitudeangle of the location in the way that solar radiation is perpendicular to the absorber surface, enhances the air velocitythrough the chimney by 21.6% and it also improves the overall efficiency by enabling the system to continue workingduring night hours.It was also realized that by applying fillets to eliminate sharp edges at the chimney not only reduces stressconcentration caused by the wind power but it also distributes the air velocity over a broader area through the chimney.

Keywords:

Solar Chimney , EPCM , fillet edges