Solar Chimney Power Plant Performance Analysis in the Central Regions of Iran

Abstract

In the current study, the performance analysis of a solar chimney power plant expected to provide off-grid electric power demand for villages located in Iranian central regions is presented. High annual average of solar radiation and available desert lands in the central parts of Iran are factors to encourage the full development of a solar chimney power plant for the thermal and electrical production of energy for various uses. The interested is in Kerman where solar radiation is much better than other areas of Iran. The obtained results clear that solar chimney power plants having 244 m diameter can produce from 25.3 to 43.2 MW h of electricity power on a site like Kerman during different months of a year, according to an estimation calculated from the monthly average of sunning. This power production is sufficient for the needs of the isolated areas and can even used to feed the main electrical grid.