Solar Updraft Tower Using Compost Waste Heat and Transpired Solar Collectors

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This paper explores the use of ways to enhance energy production capability in Solar Updraft Towers (SUT) by using compost waste heat (CWH) and transpired solar collectors (TSC) in unison. The SUT is also referred to in the literature as a Solar Chimney, in which turbines located at the base of a large chimney mounted on the roof of a solar greenhouse are used to produce electricity via the natural convection updraft set up by the solar chimney which causes a wind velocity on the order of 9 mph to spin a series of shrouded turbine blades. The validity and engineering fundamentals of using CHW harvesting to enhance SUT power output has been previously presented by our team [1-2]. In our research, the floor plan of the SUT building is used for composting. The additional heat release from the composting is directed to the solar chimney in order to enhance the natural convection set-up by the solar irradiation incident on the walls and roof of the SUT. Preliminary analysis of using TSC on the heat transfer characteristics of SUT are given in [3]. The current research presents experimental and numerical modeling results for using the SUT with the greenhouse roof and walls constructed from TSC materials, which will lead to enhance temperature difference in the SUT, thus enhanced natural convection and subsequently increased turbine velocity speed and ultimately increased SUT system power output. This while improving system efficiency, reducing system cost, and making the SUT/CWH/SUT technology attractive for sustainable urban planning. The paper includes the results obtained from building a 1/5th sized scaled model of a SUT by using CWH and TSC in unison. Results of the test are compared to predictions from Numerical Heat Transfer Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) values. Results from these experimental and numerical trade studies of the SUT with CWH for energy production with and without the TSC wall are presented in the paper. [1] “Case Study of a Solar Tower/Compost Waste-to-Energy Test Facility,” by Anderson K.R., Shafahi, M., Shihadeh, S., Perez, P., Kampen, B., McNamara, C., Baghaei Lakeh, R., Sharbat, A., and Palomo, M., Journal of Solid Waste Technology & Management, Vol. 42, 698-708, 2016. [2] Design of a Compost Waste Heat to Energy Solar Chimney Power Plant” by Kevin Anderson(1), Yasser Salem (2), Suzanne Shihadeh (1), Pedro Perez (1), Benjamin Kampen (1), Souha Jouhar (3), Saman Bahrani (3), Kainan Wang(3), Journal of Civil Engr. Research, May 2016, Volume 6, Number 3, (1) Mechanical Engineering, (2) Civil Engineering, (3) Construction Engineering Technology, Cal Poly Pomona. [3] “Analysis of SUT using Compost Waste Heat and TSC,” Kevin R. Anderson proceedings of ASES SOLAR 2017 Conference, Denver CO, Oct. 9-12, 2017.

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Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Materials for Energy, Efficiency and Sustainability: TechConnect Briefs 2018
Published: May 13, 2018
Pages: 21 - 23
Industry sector: Energy & Sustainability
Topic: Solar Technologies
ISBN: 978-0-9975117-9-6