Energy and exergy analyses of a solar chimney power plant with thermal energy storage

Abstract

In this paper, thermodynamic analysis of the performance of a solar chimney power plant with different types of thermal energy storage systems is presented. Stone and water as cost effective and low-maintenance thermal energy storage mediums are compared in different configurations in terms of electric power generation during night and the rate of exergy loss. The hydrodynamic and heat transfer phenomena in the solar chimney are numerically simulated. Comparison of different thermal energy storage systems shows that combined water-stone storage medium leads to several advantages of better stabilisation of power generation rate during a day, lower exergy loss by almost 30%, and higher power generation at night by about 10%. It is also shown that the solar chimney power plant with thermal energy storage reduces almost 340 kg per day of carbon dioxide emissions and 590 kg per day water consumption comparing with steam power plants. Copyright © 2016 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.