Numerical analysis on the solar updraft power plant system with a blockage

Ambient crosswind has complicated influence on the performance of the solar updraft power plant system (SUPPS) both via the collector inlet and via the chimney outlet. To overcome the negative impact of strong ambient crosswind on the performance of a 50 kW SUPPS model with the same dimensions as the prototype in Manzanares, Spain through the collector inlet, a 2 m high blockage was circularly set a few meters away from the collector inlet. A geometrical model including the SUPPS and its outside ambience was built, and the mathematical models to describe the fluid flow, heat transfer and output power of the whole system were further developed. The pressure, temperature and velocity distribution of the air in the ambience and SUPPS together with the output power of the SUPPS were analyzed. The numerical simulation results revealed that after being set a blockage in front of the collector inlet, the negative influence of ambient crosswind on the performance of the SUPPS has been overcome to a great extent.

•A blockage near the collector inlet was used to improve the SUPPS performance.•Velocity, pressure and temperature distributions were improved within the SUPPS with a blockage.•System output power of the SUPPS with a blockage increases significantly.