Solar Updraft Power Technology: Fighting Global Warming and Rising Energy Costs

Authors

  • Wilfried B. Krätzig Ruhr-University Bochum

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6002.2015.04.02.2

Keywords:

Solar updraft power technology, multi-physics computer simulation, thermo-fluiddynamics, low-concentrated solar power, cost-efficient electricity

Abstract

Solar updraft power technology (SUPT) forms a highly innovative, modern and efficient concept for solar-based electricity generation. Solar updraft power plants (SUPPs) are fueled purely by solar irradiation. They require no water for power generation, so their ideal locations are deserts. A SUPP consists of the glass-covered collector area (CA), in its centre the solar chimney (SC), and around the SC's perimeter the power conversion units (PCU). This arrangement causes a permanent flow of warm air through the SUPP, producing electricity. The paper describes computer simulation concepts to evaluate the power/energy harvest in such plants, based on fluid-thermodynamics and radiation-physics. The nonlinear numerical processes for the SUPPs' power harvests are solved by fast computer algorithms. Finally, the high economy of SUPT for world-wide arid zones in terms of leveled electricity costs (LECs) is exemplified by several optimized SUPPs.

Author Biography

Wilfried B. Krätzig, Ruhr-University Bochum

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Krätzig & Partner
Consultants

References

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Published

2015-06-15

How to Cite

Krätzig, W. B. (2015). Solar Updraft Power Technology: Fighting Global Warming and Rising Energy Costs. Journal of Technology Innovations in Renewable Energy, 4(2), 52–64. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6002.2015.04.02.2

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Articles