Narrow Results

Numerous studies have recently focused on enhancing the efficiency of solar chimney power plants (SCPP) and increasing their output power during periods of limited solar radiation. One such study proposes a novel solution: combining an SCPP with a gas power plant to create a hybrid power plant that generates power consistently, day and night. The system involves burying pipes underground and channeling the hot gas from the gas power plant through them, rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. This process increases the temperature of the soil beneath the canopy, which in turn raises the air temperature and the velocity of the air. The resulting decrease in air density leads to an increase in output power. Our results show that the performance of solar chimney of soil ground with buried pipe is about 30% higher than sand domain.

Concentrating solar power appears to be the method of choice for large capacity, utility-scale electric generation in the near term. In particular, distributed trough systems represent a reasonably mature approach, and the power tower configuration is also a viable candidate. Both of these technologies have the possibility of energy storage and auxiliary heat production during sunlight unavailability. Other systems examined in this chapter include dish-Stirling engines, solar chimneys, and solar ponds. Economics inevitably drives the choice of technology.