Solar Updraft Tower Performance Evaluation

Abstract

The aim of this work is to evaluate the performance of a solar chimney tower in a typical year placed in Uruguay. Solar Updraft Tower consists of a transparent horizontal surface placed at a certain distance above the ground (collector), a tall chimney located in the center of the collector and a turbine at the lower part of the tower. Stack effect, produced by the combination of a temperature difference between inner and outer air and the presence of the chimney, is used for generating air flow through the turbine and producing electric power. This work studies the thermodynamic behavior of the system by a simplified numerical model. Verification and validation of the model is successfully performed, and results of a case study placed in Uruguay are presented.