Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Baffles with Various Thermal and Geometrical Conditions on Thermo-Fluid Dynamics and Kinetic Power of a Solar Updraft Tower
Solar updraft towers (SUTs) are used for renewable power generation, taking advantage of the thermal updraft air flow caused by solar energy. Aerodynamic devices have been applied to SUTs to improve their performance and the baffle is one such device. Here, we investigate the effect of baffle instal...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2230 |
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| author | Seungjin Lee Yoon Seok Kim Joong Yull Park |
| author_facet | Seungjin Lee Yoon Seok Kim Joong Yull Park |
| author_sort | Seungjin Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Solar updraft towers (SUTs) are used for renewable power generation, taking advantage of the thermal updraft air flow caused by solar energy. Aerodynamic devices have been applied to SUTs to improve their performance and the baffle is one such device. Here, we investigate the effect of baffle installation on the thermo-fluid dynamic phenomena in the collector of an SUT and how it enhances the overall SUT performance using computational fluid dynamics analysis. Two geometric parameters (height and width of baffle) and two thermal boundary conditions of the baffle (adiabatic condition and heat flux condition) were tested through simulations with 10 different models. The vortex generated by the baffle has a positive effect on the delivery of heat energy from the ground to the main flow; however, one disadvantage is that the baffle inherently increases the resistance of the main flow. Over 3% higher kinetic power was achieved with some of the simulated baffle models. Therefore, an optimum design for baffle installation can be achieved by considering the positive and negative thermo-fluid dynamics of baffles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:30:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8348118a05314794a0a8417a1de9fb56 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:30:21Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-8348118a05314794a0a8417a1de9fb562022-12-22T03:59:29ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-08-01119223010.3390/en11092230en11092230Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Baffles with Various Thermal and Geometrical Conditions on Thermo-Fluid Dynamics and Kinetic Power of a Solar Updraft TowerSeungjin Lee0Yoon Seok Kim1Joong Yull Park2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechanical System Engineering, Graduate School, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974, Republic of KoreaSolar updraft towers (SUTs) are used for renewable power generation, taking advantage of the thermal updraft air flow caused by solar energy. Aerodynamic devices have been applied to SUTs to improve their performance and the baffle is one such device. Here, we investigate the effect of baffle installation on the thermo-fluid dynamic phenomena in the collector of an SUT and how it enhances the overall SUT performance using computational fluid dynamics analysis. Two geometric parameters (height and width of baffle) and two thermal boundary conditions of the baffle (adiabatic condition and heat flux condition) were tested through simulations with 10 different models. The vortex generated by the baffle has a positive effect on the delivery of heat energy from the ground to the main flow; however, one disadvantage is that the baffle inherently increases the resistance of the main flow. Over 3% higher kinetic power was achieved with some of the simulated baffle models. Therefore, an optimum design for baffle installation can be achieved by considering the positive and negative thermo-fluid dynamics of baffles.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2230solar updraft tower (SUT)bafflecomputational fluid dynamics (CFD)vortexkinetic powerheat transfer |
| spellingShingle | Seungjin Lee Yoon Seok Kim Joong Yull Park Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Baffles with Various Thermal and Geometrical Conditions on Thermo-Fluid Dynamics and Kinetic Power of a Solar Updraft Tower Energies solar updraft tower (SUT) baffle computational fluid dynamics (CFD) vortex kinetic power heat transfer |
| title | Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Baffles with Various Thermal and Geometrical Conditions on Thermo-Fluid Dynamics and Kinetic Power of a Solar Updraft Tower |
| title_full | Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Baffles with Various Thermal and Geometrical Conditions on Thermo-Fluid Dynamics and Kinetic Power of a Solar Updraft Tower |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Baffles with Various Thermal and Geometrical Conditions on Thermo-Fluid Dynamics and Kinetic Power of a Solar Updraft Tower |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Baffles with Various Thermal and Geometrical Conditions on Thermo-Fluid Dynamics and Kinetic Power of a Solar Updraft Tower |
| title_short | Numerical Investigation on the Effects of Baffles with Various Thermal and Geometrical Conditions on Thermo-Fluid Dynamics and Kinetic Power of a Solar Updraft Tower |
| title_sort | numerical investigation on the effects of baffles with various thermal and geometrical conditions on thermo fluid dynamics and kinetic power of a solar updraft tower |
| topic | solar updraft tower (SUT) baffle computational fluid dynamics (CFD) vortex kinetic power heat transfer |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2230 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT seungjinlee numericalinvestigationontheeffectsofbaffleswithvariousthermalandgeometricalconditionsonthermofluiddynamicsandkineticpowerofasolarupdrafttower AT yoonseokkim numericalinvestigationontheeffectsofbaffleswithvariousthermalandgeometricalconditionsonthermofluiddynamicsandkineticpowerofasolarupdrafttower AT joongyullpark numericalinvestigationontheeffectsofbaffleswithvariousthermalandgeometricalconditionsonthermofluiddynamicsandkineticpowerofasolarupdrafttower |