A pilot model experimental set up and computational fluid dynamics analysis of buoyancy driven solar engine

Abstract

The Solar energy is renewable energy resources which is available in plenty in our country. So far many research works is carried out in the field of solar energy like solar ponds, solar cells, solar heaters, solar chimney etc. There are many effective methods to tap the solar energy. Solar chimney power generation is one of the latest methods of producing high energy output from sun. In solar chimney the electricity is generated by rotating the turbine at the base of the chimney by the warm rising air through the chimney. In solar chimney; the power is generated by the principle of buoyancy. In Buoyancy driven Solar Engine, atmospheric air inside the chimney gets heated by hot sunlight and it rises up. The rising warm air is converged through the convergent nozzle, producing kinetic energy at the throat of the convergent nozzle. A wind turbine was installed at the entrance of the air for generating electricity. Height of the chimney and the solar absorbers are the important parameters which decides the velocity of air flowing through the wind turbine. In this paper the velocity of air at convergent throat is obtained by mathematical calculations for 1.5 meter chimney height and 1 square meter solar absorber area. The Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of buoyancy driven solar engine (BDSE) is done for the same chimney parameters. Finally a pilot model experimental setup of BDSE is made and the results obtained from the experimental set up is compared and with the results of theoretical design and CFD analysis.