Solar Tower Power Plant Performance Characteristics

Solar Tower Power Plant Performance Characteristics J.P. Pretorius Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Stellenbosch Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, South Africa Thesis: MScEng (Mech) April 2004 This study investigates energy generation by large-scale solar tower power plants. The performance characteristics of a so-called reference plant with a 4000 m diameter glass collector roof and a 1500 m high, 160 m diameter tower are determined for a site located in South Africa. The relevant draught and conservation equations are derived, discretized and implemented in a numerical model which solves the equations using specified meteorological input data and determines the power delivered by the plant. The power output of a solar tower power plant over a twenty-four hour period is presented. Corresponding temperature distributions in the ground under the collector are shown. Variations in seasonal generation are evaluated and the total annual electrical output is determined. The dependency of the power output on collector diameter and tower height is illustrated, while showing that greater power production can be facilitated by optimizing the roof shape and height. The minor influence of the tower shadow falling across the collector is evaluated, while the effect of prevailing winds on the power generated is found to be significant.

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