Use of concentrating solar technology on short solar chimney power plant

This paper investigated the influence of solar concentration on the performance of solar chimney power plant with the intension to reduce the solar chimney height. Theoretical analysis of the solar collector and the solar concentrator was presented. Simulation was carried out using Matlab. The parameters investigated were the temperature difference between the ambient air and the collector outlet, the air mass flow rate and the heat output of the solar collector. A reflective area of 527 m(2) was designed for purposes of concentrating solar energy into the solar collector. The area was segmented into 33 solar reflector of 16 m(2) focusing solar radiation to a focal area 25 m away from the center of each reflector. The maximum air temperature, mass flow rate and heat output achieved for a collector without solar concentrator are 325.51 K, 6.55 kg/s and 147.03 kW respectively whereas the maximum air temperature, air mass flow rate and heat output obtained for a collector with solar concentrator are 335.54 K, 9.48 kg/s and 308.6 kW respectively.