Thermo-economic triple-objective optimization of a solar chimney power plant using genetic algorithms

Gholamalizadeh, Ehsan; Kim, Man-Hoe

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2014.03.115

Cited by 36 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…For a smallscale prototype in Iran, experimental results and CFD simulations were evaluated to find that power output increases with chimney height and diameter [31]. Power output, costs, and overall plant efficiency were optimized by systematic variation of the plant dimensions for two prototype plants (Manzanares and Kerman, Iran) [32]. The economic feasibility for a proposed location in Nigeria was investigated using a multi-stage optimisation process employing the system efficiencies to find the best plant configuration and estimate revenues [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar chimney power plants – Dimension matching for optimum performance

Cottam¹,

Duffour²,

Lindstrand³

et al. 2019

Energy Conversion and Management

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Solar chimney power plants are very large structures with the potential to generate significant amounts of electricity. Plant dimensions such as the collector diameter and chimney height and radius are important in determining system performance. The objective of this study is to identify the key parameters that drive performance. Performance was assessed in terms of power output and power output per cost. Using a detailed thermodynamic model, the plant power output was predicted for a wide range of design and operational parameters. It was found that the optimum pressure drop ratio depends on the collector and chimney radius, but not on chimney height, ambient temperature or insolation. The dimensions of the main components must be well matched to achieve best performance. Chimney radii of up to 200 m are essential to achieve maximum power generation up to 900 MW. Optimum power output exists for variation of the collector and chimney radius. However, increasing the chimney height always results in increased power generation. The physical phenomena underpinning high-performing configurations were highlighted. Power and efficiency increase with increased plant dimensions, but technological limits exist for the chimney height. A simple but robust cost model was introduced to identify optimum configurations in terms of power output per cost. Different relative costs between collector and chimney the optimum dimensions were selected. It was concluded that several smaller plants with collector radius about 3000 m are advantageous over one larger plant. Taller chimneys are economically beneficial until the specific chimney costs increase more than quadratically with height. Keywords Solar updraft power plant, Solar thermal chimney, Thermodynamic model, Cost model Nomenclature Chimney Parameters ℎ Chimney radius ℎ Chimney height Δ Pressure drop due to friction in the chimney Power generated Collectors Parameters Collector radius ℎ Collector inlet height ℎ Collector outlet height ℎ Collector height at distance r from inlet Canopy absorptivity Canopy transmissivity Collector annular section plan area Darcy Friction Factor Turbine Parameters x Turbine pressure drop ratio Turbine efficiency Δ Pressure drop available to the turbine Ground Properties Ground absorptivity Ground surface temperature Constant ground temperature at −5 underground Working fluid Properties Air specific heat capacity ̇ Mass flow rate Fluid density Fluid velocity Fluid pressure Friction shear stress or Temperature of the fluid Ambient Properties I Insolation Ambient air temperature at ground level Sky temperature Ambient air pressure at ground level Ambient air density Heat flows

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar chimney power plants – Dimension matching for optimum performance

Cottam¹,

Duffour²,

Lindstrand³

et al. 2019

Energy Conversion and Management

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“…Since the pilot plant in Manzanares, Spain was completed, further development worldwide has been minimal, although scientific technical studies have been carried out [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. However, the Manzanares solar tower still has the potential to play a role in future renewable energy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory Experiment and Numerical Analysis of a New Type of Solar Tower Efficiently Generating a Thermal Updraft

et al. 2016

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Abstract:A new type of solar tower was developed through laboratory experiments and numerical analyses. The solar tower mainly consists of three components. The transparent collector area is an aboveground glass roof, with increasing height toward the center. Attached to the center of the inside of the collector is a vertical tower within which a wind turbine is mounted at the lower entry to the tower. When solar radiation heats the ground through the glass roof, ascending warm air is guided to the center and into the tower. A solar tower that can generate electricity using a simple structure that enables easy and less costly maintenance has considerable advantages. However, conversion efficiency from sunshine energy to mechanical turbine energy is very low. Aiming to improve this efficiency, the research project developed a diffuser-type tower instead of a cylindrical tower, and investigated a suitable diffuser shape for practical use. After changing the tower height and diffuser open angle, with a temperature difference between the ambient air aloft and within the collector, various diffuser tower shapes were tested by laboratory experiments and numerical analyses. As a result, it was found that a diffuser tower with a semi-open angle of 4 • is an optimal shape, producing the fastest updraft at each temperature difference in both the laboratory experiments and numerical analyses. The relationships between thermal updraft speed and temperature difference and/or tower height were confirmed. It was found that the thermal updraft velocity is proportional to the square root of the tower height and/or temperature difference.

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“…This study presents advancement to previously reported SCPP optimization [28] for two built SCPPs in Kerman and Manzanares. For this purpose, we focus on the performance optimization of the collector to examine the effect of the roof inclination of the collector on the performance of the SCPP systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…An appropriate design of the collector construction is one of the main factors to improve the performance of the SCPP. A multi-objective genetic algorithm optimization method was presented by Gholamalizadeh and Kim [28] for an SCPP system to simultaneously optimize the total efficiency, power output, and expenditure, obtaining optimal geometric parameters. This optimization investigation has been carried out to optimize the configuration of SCPP systems with a zero-slope collector roof.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Objective Optimization of a Solar Chimney Power Plant with Inclined Collector Roof Using Genetic Algorithm

Gholamalizadeh

Kim

2016

Energies

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This paper presents an optimization of a solar chimney power plant with an inclined collector roof using genetic algorithms. Five design parameters that affect the system performance are the collector radius, collector inlet height, collector outlet height, chimney height and diameter. A multi-objective design to simultaneously optimize three conflicting objectives including system efficiency, power output and expenditure is used. Based on this approach, obtaining the best combination of the possible geometrical parameters, performance of two built pilot power plants in Kerman (Iran) and Manzanares (Spain) are optimized thermo-economically. The heights of the zero-slope collectors of the Kerman and Manzanares systems are 2 m and 1.85 m, respectively. The results show that in the Kerman pilot the optimal collector inlet and outlet heights are 1.5 m and 2.95 m, respectively, while those optimal heights in the Manzanares prototype are 1.5 m and 4.6 m, respectively. It is found that selecting the optimal collector roof configuration in addition to the other design parameters has a significant effect in the system optimization process.

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Thermo-economic triple-objective optimization of a solar chimney power plant using genetic algorithms

Cited by 36 publications

References 26 publications

Solar chimney power plants – Dimension matching for optimum performance

Solar chimney power plants – Dimension matching for optimum performance

Laboratory Experiment and Numerical Analysis of a New Type of Solar Tower Efficiently Generating a Thermal Updraft

Multi-Objective Optimization of a Solar Chimney Power Plant with Inclined Collector Roof Using Genetic Algorithm

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