Unsteady Conjugate Numerical Simulation of the Solar Chimney Power Plant System with Vertical Heat Collector

A new kind of solar chimney power plant system combining chimney and heat collector was designed. Paraffin was chosen as the material of energy storage layer and the unsteady conjugate numerical simulation of the system was done by Fluent software. The operation condition of the system was simulated when the solar radiation value was changed with time according to the actual situation. Simulation results showed that: with the increase of solar radiation, flow velocity of the air and the maximum output power increased. At twelve o'clock, the air velocity could reach 1.24 m/s and output power was 122W. Due to the energy storage effect of phase change materials, the system had output power of 1.3W at night. Moreover because of the continuous work of the heat storage layer, in the same condition of solar radiation, the air velocity and maximum output power increased with the system operation days extended.