Numerical analysis on an industrial-scaled solar updraft power plant system with ambient crosswind

Existing research indicated that the ambient crosswind (ACW) has very complex influences on the SUPPS both through the chimney outlet and collector inlet as demonstrated by numerical analysis from the Spanish prototype. But what influence exert ACW through chimney outlet and collector inlet independently on the overall performance of SUPPS is still unclear. In this research, two geometrical models are constructed for numerical simulation on industrial-scale SUPPS in the vicinity of 10 MW. In model 1, ACW acts on both chimney outlet and collector inlet; in model 2, ACW acts only on the chimney outlet. Fluid flow, heat transfer and power output performances of SUPPS are investigated and discussed. It is found that, the negative effect of ACW only occurs at the collector inlet, with cold ambient air into the collector resulting in changing of fluid distribution and deterioration of buoyant driving force, whereas the positive effect occurs at the chimney outlet, with strong ACW passing by the chimney outlet causing entrainment of buoyant airflow within the chimney outlet. To avoid deterioration and to improve the overall performance of SUPPS, effective measures can be taken to prevent ACW from entering the collector inlet and also to induce beneficial effects of high altitude strong ACW blowing across the chimney outlet.