Impact of Guide Wall Geometry on the Power Output of a Solar Chimney Power Plant

This study investigated the impact from the geometry of guide walls (GWs) on the power output of a solar chimney power plant. Numerical simulations found a reduction in the mass flow rate after adding a guide wall in the system. The driving force and the velocity, however, showed a significant increase along the increasing altitude of GWs. The potential maximum power output was enlarged by 29.6% in a cylindrical-chimney system and by 6.3% in a divergent-chimney system compared to the system without guide walls. Based on the results, the GW height should be a primary criterion for designing GWs.