On the form of the power equation for modeling solar chimney power plant systems

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the mathematical models of solar chimney power plants, especially the power equation, highlighting potential inaccuracies and proposing corrections based on analytical and experimental comparisons.

Contribution

It identifies limitations in existing power equations for SCPPS and suggests necessary corrections to improve their applicability in realistic conditions.

Findings

Some derived equations may require correction for accuracy.

Analytical results differ from experimental data, indicating model limitations.

Proposed corrections improve the model's realism and predictive power.

Abstract

Recently several mathematical models of a solar chimney power plant were derived, studied for a variety of boundary conditions, and compared against CFD calculations. The importance of these analyses is about the accuracy of the derived pressure drop and output power equation for solar chimney power plant systems (SCPPS). We examine the assumptions underlying the derivation and present reasons to believe that some of the derived equations, specifically the power equation in this model, may require a correction to be applicable in more realistic conditions. The analytical resutls are compared against the available experimental data from the Manzanares power plant.