Transpired Solar Collector Chimney Tower Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar chimney towers using greenhouse-type collectors face issues with high costs, low efficiencies, dust accumulation, durability problems, and large land requirements due to low temperature rises and inefficient heat transfer, leading to decreased solar-optical efficiency and increased investment costs.
Innovation Solution
A transpired solar collector system with a heat-absorbing roof and air inlet openings that allows ambient air to flow in, creating a pressure difference to drive heated air through a chimney tower, directly heating the air without relying on greenhouse technology, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing land and maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If greenhouse-type collectors with transparent panels are used, then solar radiation can penetrate and heat the ground, but the collectors accumulate dust easily and require frequent cleaning, decreasing solar-optical efficiency over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the transparent glazing component from the solar collector system entirely. Instead of using transparent panels that trap dust, the design employs a transparent cover only at the perimeter to define the collector boundary, while the central heating area uses opaque reflective surfaces that do not accumulate dust in a manner that blocks solar radiation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using transparent panels to allow solar radiation through to heat the ground directly, the invention inverts the approach by using opaque reflective surfaces that redirect solar radiation onto a central absorber plate, which then heats the air in contact with it. This inversion eliminates the dust accumulation problem inherent in transparent panel systems.
2Productivity
If large areas of glazing are used to generate sufficient air flow, then more thermal energy can be captured, but the cost and land requirement increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by concentrating solar energy collection at the central absorber plate location rather than distributing it across a large transparent panel area. The reflective surfaces are strategically positioned to direct maximum solar radiation onto this central point, creating a localized high-heat-flux zone that drives strong convection currents with minimal collector area.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses composite construction combining transparent perimeter panels with opaque reflective surfaces and a central absorber plate. This composite approach allows the structure to perform multiple functions: defining the collector boundary, reflecting solar radiation, and concentrating heat, thereby achieving high productivity with reduced land area compared to conventional transparent panel systems.
3Reliability
If transparent panels are used for the roof, then solar radiation can enter, but the panels are difficult to ruggedize and can be easily broken or degraded by UV rays and wind
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes transparent panels from the main collector area entirely, replacing them with opaque reflective surfaces. Transparent material is retained only for the perimeter boundary definition, dramatically reducing the surface area subject to UV degradation and mechanical damage while maintaining sufficient solar radiation transmission for system operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The perimeter transparent panels serve as a sacrificial, easily replaceable boundary element rather than a primary solar transmission component. This allows the use of simpler, more durable materials for the main heating function while the transparent elements are minimized to non-critical structural definition roles.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The transpired solar collector system enhances air heating efficiency, reduces land requirements, and increases energy conversion by directly absorbing solar radiation, resulting in higher temperature rises and improved energy production with lower maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
Solar radiation heats the heat absorbing roof which in turn heats air within the interior space
Implementation Method 2
the heat absorbing roof can be formed from one or more perforated heat absorbing panels
Implementation Method 3
an air pressure difference is created between air in the interior space and air outside the transpired solar collector, which causes the heated air in the interior space to flow through the chimney
Implementation Method 4
The heating causes convection currents which move the air towards the tower by the chimney effect
Implementation Method 5
This airflow drives wind turbines placed in the chimney or around the chimney base to produce electricity
Data Source
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AI summary
A transpired solar collector chimney tower is provided. Specifically, disclosed herein is a system that uses solar radiation for generating electricity comprising: a transpired solar air heating collector device comprising: a heat absorbing roof; an interior space adjacent the heat absorbing roof; and, a plurality of air inlet openings distributed over the heat absorbing roof and configured to allow ambient air to flow from outside the heat absorbing roof into the interior space; a chimney tower extending from the transpired solar air heating collector device and connected to the interior space such that heated air in the interior space flows from the interior space through the chimney tower; and, one or more turbines positioned within one or more of the interior space and the chimney tower and on a path of airflow from the interior space through the chimney tower.