Study of a Novel Updraft Tower Power Plant Combined with Wind and Solar Energy

Qiong Wang; Meng Chen; Longhui Ren; Xinhang Zhan; Yili Wei; Zhiyuan Jiang

doi:10.3390/buildings14082416

Buildings (Aug 2024)

Study of a Novel Updraft Tower Power Plant Combined with Wind and Solar Energy

Qiong Wang,
Meng Chen,
Longhui Ren,
Xinhang Zhan,
Yili Wei,
Zhiyuan Jiang

Affiliations

Qiong Wang: School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi‘an 710055, China
Meng Chen: School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi‘an 710055, China
Longhui Ren: School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi‘an 710055, China
Xinhang Zhan: School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi‘an 710055, China
Yili Wei: School of Information Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, No. 7 Aerding Road, Baotou 014010, China
Zhiyuan Jiang: School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 28 Xianning West Road, Xi’an 710049, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082416
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 8
p. 2416

Abstract

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This study presents a novel solar updraft tower power plant (SUTPP) system, which has been designed to achieve the simultaneous utilization of solar and wind energy resources in desert regions, in response to the pressing demand for sustainable and efficient renewable energy solutions. The aim of this research was to develop an integrated system that is capable of harnessing and converting these abundant energy sources into electrical power, thereby enhancing the renewable energy portfolio in arid environments. The methodology of this study involved the design and construction of a prototype SUTPP, comprising a 53 m high tower, a 6170 m2 collector, five horizontal-axis wind turbines, and a thermal energy storage layer made up of pebbles and sand. The experimental setup was meticulously detailed, and experiments were conducted to collect data on the system’s performance under various environmental conditions. Subsequently, three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed to explore the effects of ambient wind speed and solar radiation on the output power of the SUTPP. The results indicate that the output power of the system increases with the increase in ambient wind speed and solar radiation. The impact of solar irradiation on output power was observed to diminish as ambient wind speeds increased. Notably, as the inlet wind speed rose from 4 m/s to 12 m/s, the output power showed a substantial increase of 727%. The numerical simulations revealed that ambient wind speed has a more pronounced effect on power output compared to solar radiation. Furthermore, it was found that the influence of solar radiation is significant at low wind speeds, with its impact decreasing as wind speed increases. This research provides essential guidance for the design and engineering of highly efficient solar thermal energy utilization projects, representing a significant advancement in the field of renewable energy technology deployment in desert environments.

Published in Buildings

ISSN: 2075-5309 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Building construction
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings

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