A review on solar updraft tower plant technology: Thermodynamic analysis, worldwide status, recent advances, major challenges and opportunities

In the 21st century, utilization of solar energy takes a new peak due to the increase in global energy demand, environmental concerns and scarcity of fossil fuel. Among various technologies, the solar updraft tower plant generates intensive interest among researchers in recent years. Remarkably advancements in the plant were achieved over the decades through various numerical, analytical and experimental studies. In this review work, the thermodynamic principle behind the plant and energy balance equations needed for different components were reviewed as these are useful for design calculations. Also, exergy analysis and cost estimation were discussed. The worldwide status of the plant in the last two decades was reviewed and observed that the power potential of the system was in the range of 0.053-27 MW. The summary of each mathematical analysis and research gaps were reported as these are useful for future studies. The factors affecting the performance of the plant such as surface transfer coefficients, pressure profile and turbine pressure drop were also reported. Lower thermal efficiency, land requirements for commercial plant and building tall chimney were the major challenges on the plant which are also discussed. Lastly, the recommendations and future perspective of the plant is outlooked.