Computational study on design parameters of a solar chimney

Abstract

Today, the production of energy and electricity is one of the major concerns of mankind. Electricity generation by solar energy is considered as one of the alternatives to fossil fuels. Solar chimneys mechanism is based on a natural phenomenon. In this process the solar energy heat up the earth's surface and the surrounding air. Due to the density difference between cold air and warm air, heated air ascends and causes air circulation. In this study, mathematical modelling of solar chimney and governing equations of this system will be discussed. In order to validate the numerical results, upwind velocity in chimney has been compared with a reliable reference results. As well as, the optimized geometry of chimney has been investigated. Therefore, by the simulation of a solar chimney, performance (output power and efficiency) for changes in geometry and physical parameters such as chimney height, chimney diameter, radius collector and collector height is estimated.