ABSTRACT

Our country is facing a number of problems on power generation. The original target
of increasing the generating capacity by 30,000 MW during eight plans got reduced to
20,000MW and fears are now being expressed about by achieing een this reduced target.
This is ascribed essentially to a lac! of sufficient financial resources. "riati#ation of
generation with a iew to attracting priate inestors, $ndian and %oreign countries is now
considered a remedy to oercome this difficulty. The load demands are increasing fast while
the additions to generating capacities are slow and relatiely small, and the reliabilities and
&uantity of power supply are deteriorating resulting in fre&uent interruptions and low oltages
thus affecting industrial and agricultural production and causing inconenience to the public
in a ariety of ways. 'ue to the demands outstripping aailability, the grid systems are being
operated at sub(standard fre&uencies resulting in serious systems disturbances and blac! (
outs.
To oercome this sensible technology for the wide use of renewable energy must be
simple and reliable, accessible to the technologically less deeloped and deeloping countries
that are sunny and often hae limited material sources. $t should not need cooling water and it
should be based on enironmentally sound production from renewable or recyclable
materials.
The solar tower meets these conditions. )conomic appraisals based on experience and
!nowledge gathered so far hae shown that large scale solar towers *+, -00 MW. are capable
of generating electricity at costs comparable to those of conentional power plant. This is
reason enough to further deelop this form of solar energy utili#ation, up to large,
economically iable units. $n a future energy economy, solar towers could thus help assure
the economic and enironmentally benign proision of electricity in sunny regions.
-
INDEX
PAGE NO
1. INTRODUCTION 3-11
-.-W$/' )/)012
-.2 3O450 )/)012 $/ $/'$5
-.3 )6O/OM$63 O% W$/' %50M3
2. SOLAR CHIMNEY TECHNOLOGY 12-19
2.- "50T3 O% 3O450 67$M/)2
2.-.- T7) 6O44)6TO0
2.-.2 T7) 67$M/)2
2.-.3 T7) T809$/)3
3. FUNCTIONAL PRINCIPAL AND WORKING 20-22
4. A HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION FOR 23-24
THE DESERT
. SOLAR CHIMNEY ON THE INTERNATIONAL GRID 2-2!
". THE PROTOTYPE IN MAN#ANARES 2$-39
:.-7OW T7) "0O;)6T 05/
:.2 T)3T3 '80$/1 T7) /$/)(2)50 "0O;)6T
<. CONCLUSION 40-41
!. REFERENCES
2
CHAPTER- 1
INTRODUCTION
1. INTRODUCTION
3
1.1WIND ENERGY
$ndia is a country with dierse climate = ast potential, untapped resources. 5bundant
natural resources li!e wind, sun = water are aailable = can be made use of. Wind, being the
most aailable of resources, has turned out to be the most popular = with the new thrust on
generating power to meet the needs of tomorrow, there are a host of entrepreneurs willing to
tap this form of energy. 9eing unlimited, renewable = pollution(free resource, there has been
a moement world oer, to deelop highly sophisticated technology to conert this !inetic
energy into its Mechanical = )lectrical form. Winds result from differential heating of the
earth = its atmosphere by the sun = are sub>ected to seeral forces altering their direction =
speed of flow? about one per cent of total solar radiation that reaches the earth is conerted
into wind energy.
W%&' ()*+, is the conersion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as
using wind turbines to ma!e electrical power, windmills for mechanical
power,windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships.
4arge wind farms consist of hundreds of indiidual wind turbines which are connected to
the electric power transmission networ!. %or new constructions, onshore wind is an
inexpensie source of electricity, competitie with or in many places cheaper than fossil fuel
plants. 3mall onshore wind farms proide electricity to isolated locations. 8tility companies
increasingly buy surplus electricityproduced by small domestic wind turbines.
@3A
Offshore
wind is steadier and stronger than on land, and offshore farms hae less isual impact, but
construction and maintenance costs are considerably higher.
Wind power, as an alternatie to fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely
distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation and uses little
land.
@BA
The effects on the enironment are generally less problematic than those from other
power sources. 5s of 20--, 'enmar! is generating more than a &uarter of its electricity from
wind and <3 countries around the world are using wind power to supply the electricity grid.
@CA
$n 20-0 wind energy production was oer 2.CD of total worldwide electricity usage, and
growing rapidly at more than 2CD per annum.
Wind power is ery consistent from year to year but has significant ariation oer shorter
time scales. 5s the proportion of windpower in a region increases, a need to upgrade the grid,
and a lowered ability to supplant conentional production can occur.
@:A@EA
"ower management
B
techni&ues such as haing excess capacity storage, geographically distributed turbines,
dispatchable bac!ing sources, storage such aspumped(storage hydroelectricity, exporting and
importing power to neighboring areas or reducing demand when wind production is low, can
greatly mitigate these problems.
@<A
$n addition, weather forecasting permits the electricity
networ! to be readied for the predictable ariations in production that occur
Wind power has been used as long as humans hae put sails into the wind. %or more than two
millennia wind(powered machines hae ground grain and pumped water. Wind power was
widely aailable and not confined to the ban!s of fast(flowing streams, or later, re&uiring
sources of fuel. Wind(powered pumps drained the polders of the /etherlands, and in arid
regions such as the 5merican mid(westor the 5ustralian outbac!, wind pumps proided water
for lie stoc! and steam engines.
With the deelopment of electric power, wind power found new applications in lighting
buildings remote from centrally(generated power. Throughout the 20th century parallel paths
deeloped small wind plants suitable for farms or residences, and larger utility(scale wind
generators that could be connected to electricity grids for remote use of power. Today wind
powered generators operate in eery si#e range between tiny plants for battery charging at
isolated residences, up to near(gigawatt si#ed offshore wind farms that proide electricity to
national electrical networ!s.
Wind energy
Wind energy is the !inetic energy of air in motion, also called wind. Total wind energy
flowing through an imaginary area Aduring the time t isF
@--A
where is the density of air? v is the wind speed? Avt is the olume of air passing
through A *which is considered perpendicular to the direction of the wind.? Avt is
therefore the mass m passing per unit time. /ote that G v
2
is the !inetic energy of the
moing air per unit olume.
"ower is energy per unit time, so the wind power incident on A *e.g. e&ual to the rotor
area of a wind turbine. isF
C
Wind power in an open air stream is thus proportional to the third power of the wind
speed? the aailable power increases eightfold when the wind speed doubles. Wind
turbines for grid electricity therefore need to be especially efficient at greater wind
speeds.
Map of aailable wind power for the8nited 3tates. 6olor codes indicate wind power
density class. *clic! to see larger.
Wind is the moement of air across the surface of the )arth, affected by areas of high
pressure and of low pressure. The surface of the )arth is heated uneenly by the 3un,
depending on factors such as the angle of incidence of the sunHs rays at the surface
*which differs with latitude and time of day. and whether the land is open or coered
with egetation. 5lso, large bodies of water, such as the oceans, heat up and cool
down slower than the land. The heat energy absorbed at the )arthHs surface is
transferred to the air directly aboe it and, as warmer air is less dense than cooler air,
it rises aboe the cool air to form areas of high pressure and thus pressure
differentials. The rotation of the )arth drags the atmosphere around with it causing
turbulence. These effects combine to cause a constantly arying pattern of winds
across the surface of the )arth.
@

The total amount of economically extractable power aailable from the wind is
considerably more than present human power use from all sources.
@-3A
5xel Ileidon
of the Max "lanc! $nstitute in 1ermany, carried out a Jtop downJ calculation on how
much wind energy there is, starting with the incoming solar radiation that dries the
winds by creating temperature differences in the atmosphere. 7e concluded that
somewhere between -< TW and :< TW could be extracted.
@-BA
6ristina 5rcher
and Mar! K. ;acobson presented a Jbottom(upJ estimate, which unli!e IleidonHs are
based on actual measurements of wind speeds, and found that there is -E00 TW of
wind power at an altitude of -00 metres oer land and sea. Of this, Jbetween E2 and
:
-E0 TW could be extracted in a practical and cost(competitie mannerJ.
@-BA
They later
estimated <0 TW. 7oweer research at 7arard 8niersityestimates - WattLm
2
on
aerage and 2M-0 MWL!m
2
capacity for large scale wind farms, suggesting that these
estimates of total global wind resources are too high by a factor of about B.
'istribution of wind speed *red. and energy *blue. for all of 2002 at the 4ee 0anch
facility in 6olorado. The histogram shows measured data, while the cure is the
0ayleigh model distribution for the same aerage wind speed.
The strength of wind aries, and an aerage alue for a gien location does not alone
indicate the amount of energy a wind turbine could produce there. To assess the
fre&uency of wind speeds at a particular location, a probability distribution function is
often fit to the obsered data. 'ifferent locations will hae different wind speed
distributions. The Weibull model closely mirrors the actual distribution of hourlyLten(
minute wind speeds at many locations. The Weibull factor is often close to 2 and
therefore a 0ayleigh distribution can be used as a less accurate, but simpler model.
Wind farms
Main article: Wind farm
Wind turbines at the ;epirachN )olian "ar! in 4a 1ua>ira, 6olombia.
5 wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used for production of
electricity. 5 large wind farm may consist of seeral hundred indiidual wind turbines
E
distributed oer an extended area, but the land between the turbines may be used for
agricultural or other purposes. 5 wind farm may also be located offshore.
5lmost all large wind turbines hae the same design O a hori#ontal axis wind turbine haing
an upwind rotor with three blades, attached to a nacelle on top of a tall tubular tower. $n
a wind farm, indiidual turbines are interconnected with a medium oltage *often 3B.C !P.,
power collection system and communications networ!. 5t a substation, this medium(oltage
electric current is increased in oltage with a transformer for connection to the high
oltage electric power transmissionsystem.
1.2 SOLAR ENERGY IN INDIA
$f the ast expanse of the Thar 'esert in /orthwestern $ndia was harnessed to produce
solar energy, it could light up fie of 5siaHs most populated cities. 3cientists say the endless
sands of 0a>asthan 3tate could well earn the distinction of being the JbiggestJ solar
powerhouse by 20-0, producing -0,000 MW of electricity. The 0a>asthan )nergy
'eelopment 5gency *0)'5. has started the spadewor! on an ambitious pro>ect. J5 ma>or
chun! of the desert, about -3,C00 s&uare miles, will be declared a 3olar )nergy )nterprise
Kone li!e the one in /eada *in the 8nited 3tates.J, says director "robhat 'ayal. 7e thin!s
that if the state were to install solar collectors in >ust one "ercent of its desert, which stretches
oer EE,200 s&uare miles, Jwe could generate :,000 megawatts of electricityJ.
5 city the si#e of 'elhi with -0 Million people needs -,<00 megawatts. JThis solar
bowl of the desert will become the worldHs biggest center for solar power generation, research
and deelopmentJ, he declares. The earth receies some B,000 trillion(!ilowatt hours of
electromagnetic 0adiation from the sun( about hundred times the worldHs current energy
consumption needs. 5t present, a 3CB megawatt solar power pro>ect in southern 6alifornia is
the worldHs largest, proiding Q0 percent of global solar energy.
$ndia is densely populated and has high solar insolation, an ideal combination for using -)./,
()*+, %& I&'%/.. $n the solar energy sector, some large pro>ects hae been proposed, and a
3C,000 !m
2
*-B,000 s& mi. area of the Thar 'esert has been set aside for solar power pro>ects,
sufficient to generate E00 to 2,-00 1W. 5lso $ndiaHs Ministry of /ew and 0enewable )nergy
has released the ;//3M "hase 2 'raft "olicy, by which the 1oernment aims to install -0
1W of 3olar "ower and of this -0 1W target, B 1W would fall under the central scheme and
the remaining : 1W under arious 3tate specific schemes.
<
$n ;uly 200Q, $ndia uneiled a 83R-Q billion plan to produce 20 1W of solar power by
20208nder the plan, the use of solar(powered e&uipment and applications would be made
compulsory in all goernment buildings, as well as hospitals and hotels. On -< /oember
200Q, it was reported that $ndia was ready to launch its/ational 3olar Mission under the
/ational 5ction "lan on 6limate 6hange, with plans to generate -,000 MW of power by
20-3. %rom 5ugust 20-- to ;uly 20-2, $ndia went from 2.C MW of grid connected
photooltaics to oer -,000 MW.
5ccording to a 20-- report by 90$'1) TO $/'$5 and 1TM 0esearch, $ndia is facing a
perfect storm of factors that will drie solar photooltaic *"P. adoption at a Jfurious pace
oer the next fie years and beyondJ. The falling prices of "P panels, mostly from 6hina but
also from the 8.3., has coincided with the growing cost of grid power in $ndia. 1oernment
support and ample solar resources hae also helped to increase solar adoption, but perhaps
the biggest factor has been need. $ndia, Jas a growing economy with a surging middle class,
is now facing a seere electricity deficit that often runs between -0D and -3D of daily needJ.
@CA
$ndia is planning to install the WorldHs largest 3olar "ower "lant with B,000 MW 6apacity
near 3ambhar 4a!e in 0a>asthan.
@:A
On -: May 20--, $ndiaSs first C MW of installed capacity solar power pro>ect was registered
under the 6lean 'eelopment Mechanism. The pro>ect is in 3iagangai
Pillage, 3iaganga district, Tamil /adu
CURRENT STATUS
S)./, R+-)0,1+ M/( )2 I&'%/
Q
With about 300 clear, sunny days in a year, $ndiaHs theoretical solar powerreception, on only
its land area, is about C000 "etawatt(hours per year *"WhLyr. *i.e. C,000 trillion !WhLyr or
about :00,000 1W..
@<A@QA@-0A
The daily aerage solar energy incident oer $ndia aries from B to
E !WhLm
2
with about -,C00M2,000 sunshine hours per year *depending upon location., which
is far more than current total energy consumption. %or example, assuming the efficiency of
"P modules were as low as -0D, this would still be a thousand times greater than the
domestic electricity demand pro>ected for 20-C.
I&-3/..+' 1/(/1%34
The amount of solar energy produced in $ndia in 200E was less than -D of the total energy
demand.
@-2A
The grid(connected solar power as of 'ecember 20-0 was merely -0 MW.
@-3A
1oernment(funded solar energy in $ndia only accounted for approximately :.B MW(yr of
power as of 200C.
@-2A
7oweer, $ndia is ran!ed number one in terms of solar energy
production per watt installed, with an insolation of -,E00 to -,Q00 !ilowatt hours per !ilowatt
pea! *!WhLIWp..
@-BA
2C.- MW was added in 20-0 and B:<.3 MW in 20--.
@-CA
9y ;anuary
20-B the installed grid connected solar power had increased to 2,20<.3: MW,
@-:A
and $ndia
expects to install an additional -0,000 MW by 20-E, and a total of 20,000 MW by 2022.
-.3 ECONOMICS OF WIND FARMS
The /on(6onentional )nergy sources wind energy is the best alternatie for the
following reasons. 3ince the raw material costs are almost negligible, it is economically
iable. 5 cost analysis between aailable sources shows that the cost of producing one IW of
power wor!s out toF
3olar 0s. - 4a!h,
"hoto(oltaic 0s. 3 4a!h
9iomass 0s. 0.C 4a!h,
Wind 0s. 0.3 4a!h
Wind is the only raw material, which is free, abundant, = after setting up capital
machinery the maintenance costs are minimal. 9esides this the technology is uncomplicated
-0
= gestation period is short. $t also has the adantage of generation of power immediately
after installation. 5n analysis of the cost of power generation shows that conentional forms
of thermal = diesel costs 0s.2.C per IWh = in a period of four years, it escalates
approximately 0s.: = 0s.C respectiely. 9ut in wind power it is the reerse as it reduces to
about 0s. 0.30 per !W. With the iability = commercial benefits established, wind energy
will soon be a thrust area to cater to an eer(increasing population. $t does ma!e a lot of sense
when you consider the fact that a third of the oil produced in the world is burned for the
production of power. Whereas the installation of one MW of wind saes close to C000 barrels
a day.
--
CHAPTER -2
SOLAR CHIMNEY TECHNOLOGY
-2
2. SOLAR CHIMNEY TECHNOLOGY
The new technology called 3olar 6himney Technology? foresees to produce bul!
electricity in sunny regions of the plant, by creating bree#e of sufficient speed *more than 20
to 30 !ph.. to run wind turbines coupled to electric generators of total oLp of 30 to 200 MW.
This Technology
$s simple = reliable.
'oes not need cooling water or produced waste heat.
$s open to enironmentally neutral.
$t can be installed by the less deeloped countries technologically.
-3
2.1 PARTS OF SOLAR CHIMNEY
Man learned to ma!e actie use of solar energy at a ery early stage? greenhouses
helped to grow food, chimney suction entilated = cooled building = windmills ground corn
= pumped water. 5 3olar ( Thermal 6himney simply combines them in a new way. The
3olar 6himney contains three essential elementsF collector, chimney, wind Turbines.
%ig-. )4)M)/T3 O% 3O450 67$M/)2 "OW)0 "45/T
5ir is heated by solar radiation under a circular glass roof open at the periphery, this and
natural ground below it form a hot air collector. $n the middle of the roof is a ertical
chimney with large air inlets at its base. The >oint between the roof and chimney base is
airtight. 5s hot air is too lighter than cold air it rises up the chimney suction from the
chimney then draws in more hot air from the collector and cold air comes in from the outside.
Thus, solar radiation causes a constant up draught in the chimney. The energy this contains is
conerted into the mechanical energy by pressure stepped wind turbines at the base of
chimney and into electrical energy by conentional generators.
The main parts of the solar chimney are
a. 6ollector
b. Turbine
-B
c. Tower *or. 6himney
/5 THE COLLECTOR
7ot air for the chimney is produced by greenhouse effect in a simple air collector
consisting only of a glass of plastic film coering stretched hori#ontally 2 to : m aboe the
ground. 7eight increases only ad>acent to the chimney base, so that the air can be dierted to
ertical moement without friction loss. This coering admits short wae solar radiation
component and retains long wae radiation from the heated ground. Thus, ground under the
roof heats up and transfers its heat to the air flowing radially aboe it from the outside to the
chimney, li!e flow heater. The air temperature rise could be 3C06 in a well(designed
collector. The total radius re&uires for CMW, 30MW, -00MW is C00, -000 and -<00 m
respectiely.
"eripheral area of the collector can be used as greenhouse or drying plants, at no extra
cost and without significant performance loss. 5 collector roof of this !ind is of long span
and continuous maintenance can gie serice up to :0 years or more. 6ollector efficiency is
improed as rise in temperature decreases. Thus, a solar chimney collector is economic,
simple in operation and has a high(energy efficiency
leel.
-C
OPTICAL PARAMETER OF 6ARIOUS GLASS ROOF MATERIALS
green white $0 0)%4)T
1lass thic!ness *mm. B B B
4ong waes absorption 0.Q-< 0.Q-< 0.-C
4ong wae transmission 0.0000-< 0.0000-< 0.0000-<
3hort wae absorption 0.0C 0.0- 0.0E
3hort wae transmission 0.<<: 0.QE 0.<-
0efractie index -.C0 -.C0 -.C0
3pecific heat capacity *;L!g oc. B<- B<- B<-
'ensity *!gLm3. 2C<0 2C<0 2C<0
Thermal conductiity *WLmI. 0.Q 0.Q 0.Q
b. T7) 67$M/)2
The chimney itself is the plantHs actual thermal engine. $t is a pressure tube with low
friction and loss *li!e a hydroelectric tube. because of its optimum surface(olume ratio. The
up(thrust of the air heated in collector is approximately proportional to air temperature rise
'T in collector and olume *i.e. height and diameter of the chimney.. $n a large solar
chimney the collector raises the temp. of air by 'T,3C06. This produces an up(draught
elocity in chimney of about P,-C mLs. The efficiency of the chimney *i.e. conersion of
heat into !inetic energy. is practically independent of 'T in collector and determined by
outside temp. To *lower the better. and height of chimney *higher the better..
"ower , I. *7cLTo.U*3olar radiation at location.U*5rea of collector.
Thus, solar chimneys can ma!e particularly good use of the low rise in air temp.
"roduced by heat emitted by the ground during the night and een the meager solar radiation
of a cold winterHs dayV 7oweer, compared with the collector and the turbines, the chimneys
efficiency is relatiely low, hence the importance of si#e in its efficiency cures. The
chimney should be as tall as possible e.g.F at -000m height can be built without difficulty.
* 4et it be remind that T.P. Tower in Toronto, is almost :00m height and serious plans are
being made for 2000 m s!yscrapers in earth&ua!e ridden ;apan..
C5 THE TURBINES
-:
Mechanical output in the form of rotational energy can now he deried from the
ertical air(current in the chimney by turbines. Turbines in a solar chimney do not wor! with
stepped elocity li!e a free(running wind energy conerter, but as a cased pressure(stepped
wind turbo(generator, in which, similar to a hydroelectric power station, static pressure is
conerted into a pipe. The energy yield of a cased pressure(stepped turbine of this !ind is
about eight times greater than that of the same diameter. 5ir speed before and after the
turbine is about the same. The output achieed is proportional to the product of olume flow
per time unit and the fall in pressure at the turbine. With a iew to maximum energy yield the
aim of the turbine regulation concept is to maximi#e this product under all operating
conditions.
The turbine regulates air speed and air flow by means of blade tilt. $f the blades are
hori#ontal, the turbine does not turn. $f the blades are ertical and allow the air to flow
through undisturbed, there is no drop in pressure at the turbine and no electricity is generated.
9etween these two extremes there is an optimum blade setting? the output is maximi#ed if the
pressure drop at the turbine is about two thirds of the total pressure differential aailable. $f
the air stream is throttled the air ta!es longer to heat up. This increases the rise in temperature
in the collector. This in its turn causes increase ground storage and thus enhanced night
output, but also greater loss from the collector *infrared emissions and conection.. Turbines
are always placed at the base of the chimney. Pertical axis turbines are particularly robust
and &uiet in operation. The choice is between one turbines whose blades coer the whole
cross(section of the chimney or six smaller turbines distributed around the circumference of
the chimney wall, here the blade length of each turbine will a sixth of the chimney diameter.
The diersion channel at the base of the chimney is designed for one or six turbines as
appropriate. 9ut it is also possible to arrange a lot of small turbines with hori#ontal axes *as
used in cooling tower fans. at the periphery of the transitional area between canopy and
aailable technology. 1enerator and transmission are conentional, as used in related spheres
-E
.
$n a solar chimney there are no critical dynamic loads on blades, hubs and setting e&uipment
of the !ind met in free(running wind energy conerters due to gustiness of the natural wind as
the canopy forms an effectie buffer against rapid pressure and speed changes. This ma!es
these components structurally simple and cheap to manufacture, and they also hae a long
life span.
-<
T4(%1/. '%7+&-%)&- /&' +.+13,%1%34 )03(03
-Q
1.6apacity MW C 30 -00 200
2.Tower height m CC0 EC0 -000 -000
3.Tower diameter m BC E0 --0 -C0
4.6ollectordiameter m -2C0 2Q00 B300 E000
CHAPTER -3
FUNCTIONAL PRINCIPAL AND WORKING
3. FUNCTIONAL PRINCIPAL AND WORKING
20
7eated air((+rises up((+gains momentum((+flows through chimney((+rotates turbineW.
The principle is when air is heated by solar radiation under a low circular translucent
roof open at the periphery? the natural ground below it form an air collector. $n the middle of
the roof and the natural ground below it form an air collector. $n the middle of the roof is a
ertical tower with large air inlets at its base. The >oint between the roof and the tower base is
airtight.
5s hot air is lighter than cold air it rises up the tower. 3uction from the tower then
draws in more hot air from the collector, and cold air comes in from the outer perimeter.
6ontinuous 2B hours operation can be achieed by placing tight water filled tubes or bags
under the roof. The water heats up during day time and releases its heat at night. These tubes
are filled only at once, no further water is needed. Thus solar radiation causes a constant
updraft in the tower. The energy contained in the updraft is conerted into mechanical energy
by pressure(staged turbines at the base of the tower, and into electrical energy by
conentional generator.
3olar chimneys are constructed to actiely promote entilation of unwanted heated or
stale air by drawing fresh cooler air from ents at lower leels. The exchange and moement
of air cools the building by driing heat to the outside. The process by which this moement
2-
of air occurs is called natural conection . /atural conection is created by solar energy
heating air within the chimney. The heated air escapes out the top of the chimney and is
replaced by air from the outside *through windows or ents elsewhere in the building..$n
winter the chimney ents to the outside can be closed and heated air in the chimney forced
*using fans, or other air handling system. into the building for heating purposes.
22
CHAPTER -4
HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION FOR THE
DESERT
4. A HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION FOR THE DESERT
23
3olar chimneys are technically ery similar to hydroelectric power stations( so far the
only really successful renewable energy source, the collector roof is the e&uialent of the
reseroir, = the chimney of the pressure pipes. 9oth power generation systems wor! with
pressure(stepped turbines, = both achiee low power production costs because of their
extremely long life span = low running costs. The collector roof = reseroir areas re&uired
are also comparable in si#e for the same electrical output. 9ut the collector roof can be built
in arid deserts = remoed without any difficulty whereas useful *often een populated. land
is submerged under reseroirs.
3olar chimneys wor! on dry air = can be operated without the corrosion = caitations
typically caused by water. They will soon be >ust as successful as hydroelectric power
stations. )lectricity yielded by a solar chimney is in proportion to the intensity of global
radiation, collector area = the chimney height. Thus, there is no physical optimum. The same
output can be achieed with a higher chimney = a small collector or ice(ersa. Optimum
dimensions can be calculated only by including specific component costs *collector, chimney,
and turbines. for indiidual sites. 5nd so plants of different si#es are built from site to site(
but always at optimum cost, if glass is cheap = concrete dear the collector will be large with
a high proportion of double gla#ing = a relatiely low chimney, and if glass is dear there will
be a smaller, largely single(gla#ed collector and a tall chimney.
2B
CHAPTER -
. SOLAR CHIMNEY ON THE INTERNATIONAL
GRID
2C
. SOLAR CHIMNEY ON THE INTERNATIONAL GRID
1enerally spea!ing solar chimneys will feed the power they produce into a grid. The
alternating current generators are lin!ed directly in the public grid by a transformer station.
The thermal inertia of solar chimneys means that there are no rapid abrupt fluctuations in
output of the !ind produced by wind par!s and photooltaic plants *output fluctuations up to
C0D of pea! output within a minute causing the familiar fre&uency and oltage stability
problems in the grid. 3olar chimney output fluctuation is a maximum of 30D of the rated
load within -0 to -C minutes? this means that grid stabili#ation can be easily handled by the
appropriate regulation stations.
$n the case of island grids, without conentional power sources and no lin!age with
other grids, a connection of solar chimneys to pumped storage stations is ideal. These stores
the excess energy produced by the solar chimney by the day or year and releases it when
needed. Thus aailable energy in independent of arying amounts of sunshine by day and
night, and throughout the year.
Many countries already hae hydroelectric power stations, and these can also be used
as pumped storage stations, if necessary their reseroirs can be coered with membranes to
preent water eaporation. The rpm of solar chimney turbines and pumps can be uncoupled
from the rigid grid C0 7# fre&uency by fre&uency conerters of the !ind already used by a
9adenwer! hydroelectric plant in 3outh(West 1ermany.
The import of solar(produced energy, from /orth 5frica to )urope, for example, will
soon be perfectly cheap and simple, as the )uropean grid is to be extended to /orth 5frica.
Transfer costs to )urope will then be only a few centsL!Wh. 5 large extended grid will itself
also optimi#e energy flow between the arious producers and consumers and thus need
hardly any storage facilities.
$f distances between solar energy stations and consumers are large, as for example
from /orth 5frica to )urope, low loss, high oltage '.6. transmission is also aailable.
Transfer losses oer a distance of 3C00 !m from the 3ahara to central )urope will be less
than -CD.
2:
On the other hand, hydrogen technology conerting solar power into hydrogen by
electrolysis, transporting this and then conerting it bac! into electricity(ma!es no sense, and
is conceiable only for mobile use in ehicles and aircraft.
Thus, there is no technical reason why a global solar energy economy cannot be
achieed. Transfer and distribution of solar energy generated in deserts no longer presents
serious problems, een of an economic nature.
2E
CHAPTER-"
THE PROTOTYPE IN MAN#ANARES
2<
".THE PROTOTYPE IN MAN#ANARES
O89+13%:+;-
'etailed theoretical preliminary research and a wide range of wind tunnel
experiments led to the establishment plant with a pea! output of C0 !W on a site made
aailable by the 3panish utility 8nion )lectricity %enosa in Man#anares *about -C0 !m south
of Madrid. in -Q<-(<2 with funds proided by the 1erman Ministry of 0esearch and
Technology *9M%T. The aim of this research pro>ect was to erify theoretical data
established by measurement = to examine the influence of indiidual component on the
plantHs output and efficiency under realistic engineering and meteorological conditions. To
this end a chimney -QCm high and -0 m in diameter was built, surrounded by a collector 2B0
m in diameter. The plant was e&uipped with extensie measurement data ac&uisition
facilities. The performance of the plant was registered second by second by -<0 sensors.
3ince the type of collector roof primarily determines a solar chimneyHs performance
costs, different building methods and materials for the collector roof were also to be tested in
Man#anares. 5 realistic collector roof for large(scale plants has to be built 2 to : m aboe
ground leel. %or this reason the lowest realistic height for a collector roof for large(scale
technical use, 2 m, was selected for the small Man#anares "lant. *%or output a roof height of
only C0 cm would in fact hae been ideal.. Thus only C0 IW could be achieed in
Man#anares, but this realistic roof height also permitted conenience access to the turbine at
the base of the chimney. This also meant that experimental planting could be carried out
under the roof to inestigate additional use of the collector as a greenhouse.
3olar updraft tower
2Q
S1<+7/3%1 (,+-+&3/3%)& )2 / -)./, 0(',/23 3)*+,
The -)./, 0(',/23 3)*+, *38T. is a renewable(energy power plant for generating electricity
from solar power. 3unshine heats the air beneath a ery wide greenhouse(li!e roofed
collector structure surrounding the central base of a ery tall chimney tower. The
resulting conection causes a hot air updraft in the tower by the chimney effect. This airflow
dries wind turbinesplaced in the chimney updraft or around the chimney base to
produceelectricity. "lans for scaled(up ersions of demonstration models will allow
significant power generation, and may allow deelopment of other applications, such as water
extraction or distillation, and agriculture or horticulture.
5s a solar chimney power plant *36"". proposal for electrical power generation, commercial
inestment is discouraged by the high initial cost of building a ery large noel structure, and
by the ris! of inestment in a feasible but unproen application of een proen component
technology for long(term returns on inestmentOespecially when compared to the proen
and demonstrated greater short(term returns on lesser inestment in coal(fired or nuclear
power plants. 4i!ewise, the benefits of HcleanH or solar power technologies are shared, and the
widely shared harmful pollution of existing power generation technologies is not applied as a
cost for priate commercial inestment. This is a well(described economic trade(off between
priate benefit and shared cost, ersus shared benefit and priate cost. $f it is in the public
interest, then some form of public inestment or subsidy to share cost and ris! will be
re&uired to demonstrate 36"" feasibility at scale.
Design
"ower output depends primarily on two factorsF collector area and chimney height. 5 larger
area collects and warms a greater olume of air to flow up the chimney? collector areas as
large as E !ilometres *B.3 mi. in diameter hae been discussed. 5 larger chimney height
increases the pressure difference ia the stac! effect? chimneys as tall as -,000 metres
*3,2<- ft. hae been discussed.
@-A
7eat can be stored inside the collector area. The ground beneath the solar collector, water in
bags or tubes, or a saltwater thermal sin! in the collector could add thermal capacity and
inertia to the collector. 7umidity of the updraft and condensation in the chimney could
increase the energy flux of the system.
@2A@3A
30
Turbines with a hori#ontal axis can be installed in a ring around the base of the tower, as once
planned for an 5ustralian pro>ect and seen in the diagram aboe? orOas in the prototype in
3painOa single ertical axis turbine can be installed inside the chimney.
6arbon dioxide is emitted only negligibly
@citation neededA
as part of operations. Manufacturing and
construction re&uire substantial power, particularly to produce cement. /et energy paybac! is
estimated to be 2M3 years.
@3A
3ince solar collectors occupy significant amounts of land, deserts and other low(alue sites
are most li!ely.
5 small(scale solar updraft tower may be an attractie option for remote regions in
deeloping countries.
@BA@CA
The relatiely low(tech approach could allow local resources and
labour to be used for construction and maintenance.
4ocating a tower at high latitudes could produce up to <C per cent of the output of a similar
plant located closer to the e&uator, if the collection area is sloped significantly toward the
e&uator. The sloped collector field, which also functions as a chimney, is built on suitable
mountainsides, with a short ertical chimney on the mountaintop to accommodate the ertical
axis air turbine. The results showed that solar chimney power plants at high latitudes may
hae satisfactory thermal performance.
@:A
3olar updraft towers can be combined with other technologies to increase output. 3olar
thermal collectors or photooltaicscan be arranged inside the collector greenhouse. This
could further be combined with agriculture.
@citation neededA
3-
S)./, C<%7&+4 M/&=/&/,+- :%+* 3<,)0>< 3<+ ().4+-3+, 1)..+13), ,))2
$n -Q<2, a small(scale experimental model of a solar draft tower
@-CA
was built in Man#anares,
6iudad 0eal, -C0 !m south of Madrid, 3pain at 3QX02Y3B.BCZ/ 3X-CY-2.2-ZW . The power
plant operated for approximately eight years. The towerHs guy(wires were not protected
against corrosion and failed due to rust and storm winds. The tower blew oer and was
decommissioned in -Q<Q.
@-:A
38T as seen from 4a 3olana
$nexpensie materials were used in order to ealuate their performance. The solar tower was
built of iron plating only -.2C millimetres *0.0BQ in. thic! under the direction of a 1erman
engineer,;[rg 3chlaich. The pro>ect was funded by the 1erman goernment.
@-EA@-<A
The chimney had a height of -QC metres *:B0 ft. and a diameter of -0 metres *33 ft. with a
collection area *greenhouse. of B: hectares *--0 acres. and a diameter of 2BB metres *<0- ft.,
obtaining a maximum power output of about C0 !W. Parious materials were used for testing,
such as single or double gla#ing or plastic *which turned out not to be durable enough.. One
section was used as an actual greenhouse. 'uring its operation, -<0 sensors measured inside
and outside temperature, humidity and wind speed data was collected on a second(by(second
basis.
@-QA
This experiment setup did not sell energy.
$n 'ecember 20-0, a tower in ;inshawan in $nner Mongolia, 6hina started operation,
producing 200 !ilowatts.
@20A@2-A
The -.3< billion 0M9 *83' 20< million. pro>ect was started
in May 200Q and intends to coer 2EE hectares *:<0 acres. and produce 2E.C MW by 20-3.
The greenhouse is expected to improe the climate by coering loose sand, restraining
sandstorms.
32
38T powerplant prototype in Man#anares, 3pain, seen from a point < !m to the 3outh
5 proposal to construct a solar updraft tower in %uente el %resno, 6iudad 0eal, 3pain,
entitled Ciudad Real Torre Solar would be the first of its !ind in the )uropean 8nion
@23A
and
would stand EC0 metres *2,B:0 ft. tall
@2BA
M nearly twice as tall as the continentHs tallest
structure, the 9elmont TP Mast
@2CA
M coering an area of 3C0 hectares *<:0 acres..
@2:A
$t is
expected to produce B0 MW.
@2EA
3olar 6himney Man#anares(iew of the tower through the collector glass roof
$n 200-, )niroMission
@2<A
proposed to build a solar updraft tower power generating plant
!nown as Solar Tower Buronga near9uronga, /ew 3outh Wales.
@2QA
The company did not
complete the pro>ect. They hae plans for a similar plant in 5ri#ona,
@30A
and most recently
*'ecember 20-3. in Texas,
@3-A
but there is no sign of Hbrea!ing groundH in any of
)niromissionHs proposals.
$n 'ecember 20--, 7yperion )nergy, controlled by Western 5ustralians Tony
3ageand 'allas 'empster, was reported to be planning to build a -(!m(tall solar updraft
tower near Mee!atharra to supply power to Mid(West mining pro>ects.
@32A
33
Piew from the tower on the roof with blac!ened ground below the collector. One can see the
different test materials for canopy coer, and -2 large fields of unblac!ened ground for
agricultural test area.
9ased on the need for plans for long(term energy strategies, 9otswanaHs Ministry of 3cience
and Technology designed and built a small(scale research tower. This experiment ran from E
October to 22 /oember 200C. $t had an inside diameter of 2 metres *:.: ft. and a height of
22 metres *E2 ft., manufactured from glass(reinforced polyester, with an area of
approximately -:0 s&uare metres *-,E00 s& ft.. The roof was made of a C mm thic! clear
glass supported by a steel framewor!.
@33A
$n mid(200<, the /amibian goernment approed a proposal for the construction of a B00
MW solar chimney called the H1reentowerH. The tower is planned to be -.C !ilometres
*B,Q00 ft. tall and 2<0 metres *Q20 ft. in diameter, and the base will consist of a 3E s&uare
!ilometres *-B s& mi. greenhouse in which cash crops can be grown.
@3BA
5 model solar updraft tower was constructed in Tur!ey as a ciil engineering pro>ect.
@3CA
%unctionality and outcomes are obscure.
@3:A@3EA
5 grade(school pupilHs home do(it(yourself 38T demonstration for a school science fair was
constructed and studied in 20-2, in a suburban 6onnecticut setting.
@3<A@3QA
With a E metre stac!
and -00 s&uare metre collector, this generated a daily aerage :.3B mW, from a computer fan
as a turbine. $nsolation and wind were the ma>or factors on ariance *range from 0.-2 to
2-.E< mW. in output.
Efficiency
The solar updraft tower has a power conersion rate considerably lower than many other
designs in the *high temperature.solar thermal group of collectors. The low conersion rate is
balanced to some extent by the lower cost per s&uare metre of solar collection.
@-:A@B0A@B-A
Model calculations estimate that a -00 MW plant would re&uire a -,000 m tower and a
greenhouse of 20 s&uare !ilometres *E.E s& mi.. 5 200 MW tower with the same tower would
3B
re&uire a collector E !ilometres in diameter *total area of about 3< !m\..
@3A
One 200MW
power station will proide enough electricity for around 200,000 typical households and will
abate oer Q00,000 tons of greenhouse producing gases from entering the enironment
annually. The collector area is expected to extract about 0.C percent, or C WLm\ of - !WLm\,
of the solar energy that falls upon it. 6oncentrating thermal *63". or
photooltaic *6"P. solar power plants range between 20D to 3-.2CD efficiency *dish
3tirling.. Oerall 63"L6"P efficiency is reduced because collectors do not coer the entire
footprint. Without further tests, the accuracy of these calculations is uncertain.
@B2A
Most of the
pro>ections of efficiency, costs and yields are calculated theoretically, rather than empirically
deried from demonstrations, and are seen in comparison with other collector or solar heat
transducing technologies.
The performance of an updraft tower may be degraded by factors such as atmospheric winds,
@BBA@BCA
by drag induced by the bracings used for supporting the chimney,
@B:A
and by reflection
off the top of the greenhouse canopy.
Related ideas and adaptations
The atmospheric ortex proposal
@BEA
replaces the physical chimney by a controlled or
HanchoredH cyclonic updraft ortex. 'epending on the column gradient of temperature and
pressure, or buoyancy, and stability of the ortex, ery high(altitude updraft may be
achieable. 5s an alternate to a solar collector, industrial and urban waste(heat could be
used to initiate and sustain the updraft in the ortex.
Telescopic or retractable design may lower a ery high chimney for maintenance, or
to preent storm damage. 7ot(air balloon chimney suspension has also been proposed.
5 saltwater thermal sin! in the collector could HflattenH the diurnal ariation in energy
output, while airflow humidification in the collector and condensation in the updraft
could increase the energy flux of the system.
@2A@3A
0elease of humid ground(leel air from an atmospheric ortex or solar chimney at
altitude could form clouds or precipitation, potentially altering local hydrology.
@B<A
4ocal
de(desertification, or afforestation could be achieed if a regional water cycle were
established and sustained in an otherwise arid area.
The solar cyclone distiller
@BQA
could extract atmospheric water by condensation in the
updraft of the chimney. This solar cyclonic water distiller with a solar collector
3C
pond could adapt the solar collector(chimney system for large(scale desalination of
collected brine, brac!ish( or waste(water pooled in the collector base.
@C0A
%itted with a ortex chimney scrubber, the updraft could be cleaned of particulate air
pollution. 5lternately, particulate air pollution caught in the updraft could sere as a
nucleation stimulus for precipitation
@C-A
either in the chimney, or at release altitude
as cloud seeds.
5 form of solar boiler technology placed directly aboe the turbine at the base of the
tower might increase the up(draught.
@citation neededA
$f the chimney updraft is an ioni#ed ortex, then the electro(magnetic field could be
tapped for electricity, using the airflow and chimney as a generator.
@citation neededA
)nergy production, water desalination
@C0A
or simple atmospheric water extraction could
be used to support carbon(fixing or food(producing local agriculture,
@C2A
and for
intensie a&uaculture and horticulture under the solar collector as a greenhouse.
".1HOW THE PRO?ECT RAN
3:
YEAR PROGRESS
-Q<0 'esign
-Q<- 6onstruction
-Q<2 6ommissioning
-Q<3L<B )xperimental phase = structural Optimi#ation of the
roof
-Q<CL<: in operation, further improements to collector =
electricHs.
-Q<:(<Q completely automatic long(term operation phase.
3E
".2 TESTS DURING THE NINE-YEAR PRO?ECT
The experimental plant in Man#anares ran for about -C000 hours from -Q<2 onwards.
The following tests were run in the course of the pro>ectsF 'ifferent collector roof coering
were tested for structural stability, durability and influence on output. The behaior of the
plant as whole was measured second by second *ground temperature, air temperature, speed
and humidity, translucency of the collector, turbine data, meteorology etc. The groundHs
storage capacity was tested in terms of collector temperature and soil humidity. $n order to
inestigate heat absorption and heat storage it was in turn left as it was, sprayed with blac!
asphalt and coered with blac! plastic. Parious turbine regulation strategies were deeloped
and tested? Maintenance and running costs for indiidual components were inestigated? The
thermodynamic plant simulation program deeloped in all details in the mean time was
erified with the aid of the experimental results and accompanying wind tunnel experiments,
in order to ma!e reliable calculations for any indiidual site data, meteorology and plant
dimensions for daily = annual energy production by large solar chimneys.
TYPICAL PLANT OPERATING PARAMETERS FOR PLANT OF RATING @ 30
AND 100 MW ARE GI6EN BELOW
C MW 30 MW -00 MW
C%:%. E&>%&++,%&>
6himney height *m. BBC EC0 QC0
6himney radius *m. 2E B2 CE.C
6ollector radius *m. CCC --00 -<00
6ollector height, external *m. 3.C B.C :.C
6ollector height, internal *m. --.C -C.C 20.C
3<
M+1</&%1/. E&>%&++,%&>
T4(+ )2 30,8%&+ (,)(+..+, T4(+
C MW 30 MW -00 MW
/umber of turbine 33 3C 3:
'istance of turbine from C3 <B --C
6himney 6entre *m.
5irflow rates *mLs. < -0.B -3.<
3haft power rating of -Q0 -0E- 3BE2
$ndiidual turbines *IW.
9lade tip(to(wind speed ratio -0 -0 <
0otational speed *-Lmin. -C3 -32 -0C
Tor&ue *!/m. --.Q EE.C 3-B.C
O(+,/3%&> '/3/ /3 ,/3+' .)/'
C MW 30 MW -00 MW
8pward air draught speed *mLs. Q.0E -2.CQ -C.<2
Total pressure difference *pa. 3<3.3 E:E.- --00.C
"ressure drop oer turbine *pa. 3-B.3 :2Q.- Q02.B
%riction */. 2<.: :2.Q <0.:
Temperature in collector *o6. 2C.: 3-.0 3C.E
3Q
675"T)0 (:
CONCLUSION
B0
". CONCLUSION
-. The collector of solar chimney plant can use all solar radiation both direct and diffused.
3o, this plant techni&ue is also helping hands to those countries where the s!y is fre&uently
oercast.
2. There are many regions in country which are deserts and soil doesnSt bear any crop. 5nd
thus no contribution to man!ind. 9ut installing plant there gie excellent results.
3. The technology and the material to build such plants are aailable in the country. 7ence,
such power plants are ery attractie in $ndia for bul! power generation een in deserts. The
capital cost is high, nearly EcroreLMW, which can be reduced. 7oweer, the cost of
generation could be as low as 0s.-.:2 per IW7 in long run.
5 200MW power plant is being built at Thar *;aisalmar. by a consortium of 3rilan!a
and 1ermany at the cost of 83R BC0 million which is going to commissioned in year 2000,
according to 0a>asthan )nergy 'eelopment 5gency *0)'5..
B-
REFERENCES
-. www.sciencedirect.comLrenewableLenergy olume -E issue -(B
2. www.science.comL)nergy=buildings Polume 32 issue -
3. www.wi!epedia.com
B. /. I. 9ansal, M Ileeman = M. Meliss. 0enewable energy source and conersion
technology Tata Mc1raw 7ill
C. www.eere.energy.goLredirectsLtroughnet
:. 3chlaich, ;., -QQC, JThe 3olar 6himneyF )lectricity from the 3unJ. 6. Maurer, 1eislingen
E. www.iboo!db.netLisbnL
<. J3olar chimney power plants for high latitudesJ. Solar Energy EQ *C.F BBQ(BC<
B2