Numerical simulation of a solar chimney power plant in the southern region of Iran

Three-dimensional numerical simulations are performed to investigate the effects of pressure drop across the turbine and solar radiance on the performance of a solar chimney power plant (SCPP). The SCPP system expected to provide electric power to a city is located in southern region of Iran (city of Lamerd, Fars province). Its dimensions are similar to the Manzanares prototype (built in Spain, 1970s). The results demonstrated that the SCPP can provide up to 40–200 KW of power, depending on the season. It was found that the turbine pressure drop and the solar radiation had significant effects on the first and second law efficiencies.