CFD Simulations for Performance Enhancement of a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) and Techno-Economic Feasibility for a 5 MW SCPP in an Indian Context

The use of solar energy for power generation using the innovative solar chimney concept has been explored by many researchers mostly with the help of analytical models as well as CFD simulations while experimental studies for a pilot and bench scale facilities have been carried out. The efficiencies...

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Main Authors: Arijit A. Ganguli, Sagar S. Deshpande, Aniruddha B. Pandit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/11/3342
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author Arijit A. Ganguli
Sagar S. Deshpande
Aniruddha B. Pandit
author_facet Arijit A. Ganguli
Sagar S. Deshpande
Aniruddha B. Pandit
author_sort Arijit A. Ganguli
collection DOAJ
description The use of solar energy for power generation using the innovative solar chimney concept has been explored by many researchers mostly with the help of analytical models as well as CFD simulations while experimental studies for a pilot and bench scale facilities have been carried out. The efficiencies of these chimneys, however, are less than 1% (~0.07% for 50 kW pilot plant similar to Manzanares plant in Spain). In the present study, an effort has been made to make modifications in the chimney design to improve the efficiency of the chimney in terms of power generation. CFD simulations have been carried out for this modified design and the efficiency is seen to improve to 0.12% for a 50 kW chimney. Furthermore, a techno-economic feasibility analysis has been carried out for a conventional 5 MW solar power plant which can be installed on the western part of India, which receives good solar irradiation throughout the year. Two cases with and without government subsidies have been considered. It is observed that a high rate of return (~20.4%) is obtained for a selling price of electricity of Rs 5 per kWh with government subsidy, while a rate of return of ~19% is obtained for Rs 10 per kWh without government subsidy.
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spelling doaj.art-c9486c9119c54048a4602ce8d63c57cf2023-11-21T23:04:41ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-06-011411334210.3390/en14113342CFD Simulations for Performance Enhancement of a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) and Techno-Economic Feasibility for a 5 MW SCPP in an Indian ContextArijit A. Ganguli0Sagar S. Deshpande1Aniruddha B. Pandit2School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad 380009, IndiaInstitute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai 400019, IndiaInstitute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai 400019, IndiaThe use of solar energy for power generation using the innovative solar chimney concept has been explored by many researchers mostly with the help of analytical models as well as CFD simulations while experimental studies for a pilot and bench scale facilities have been carried out. The efficiencies of these chimneys, however, are less than 1% (~0.07% for 50 kW pilot plant similar to Manzanares plant in Spain). In the present study, an effort has been made to make modifications in the chimney design to improve the efficiency of the chimney in terms of power generation. CFD simulations have been carried out for this modified design and the efficiency is seen to improve to 0.12% for a 50 kW chimney. Furthermore, a techno-economic feasibility analysis has been carried out for a conventional 5 MW solar power plant which can be installed on the western part of India, which receives good solar irradiation throughout the year. Two cases with and without government subsidies have been considered. It is observed that a high rate of return (~20.4%) is obtained for a selling price of electricity of Rs 5 per kWh with government subsidy, while a rate of return of ~19% is obtained for Rs 10 per kWh without government subsidy.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/11/3342solar chimney power plantCFDheat transfertechno-economic feasibilitydiscounted cash flow
spellingShingle Arijit A. Ganguli
Sagar S. Deshpande
Aniruddha B. Pandit
CFD Simulations for Performance Enhancement of a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) and Techno-Economic Feasibility for a 5 MW SCPP in an Indian Context
Energies
solar chimney power plant
CFD
heat transfer
techno-economic feasibility
discounted cash flow
title CFD Simulations for Performance Enhancement of a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) and Techno-Economic Feasibility for a 5 MW SCPP in an Indian Context
title_full CFD Simulations for Performance Enhancement of a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) and Techno-Economic Feasibility for a 5 MW SCPP in an Indian Context
title_fullStr CFD Simulations for Performance Enhancement of a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) and Techno-Economic Feasibility for a 5 MW SCPP in an Indian Context
title_full_unstemmed CFD Simulations for Performance Enhancement of a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) and Techno-Economic Feasibility for a 5 MW SCPP in an Indian Context
title_short CFD Simulations for Performance Enhancement of a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) and Techno-Economic Feasibility for a 5 MW SCPP in an Indian Context
title_sort cfd simulations for performance enhancement of a solar chimney power plant scpp and techno economic feasibility for a 5 mw scpp in an indian context
topic solar chimney power plant
CFD
heat transfer
techno-economic feasibility
discounted cash flow
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/11/3342
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