Solar Electricity using Natural Convection - a research proposal
Summary
A theoretical configuration is described involving a transparent multichannel chimney above a solar absorber. Beneath the absorber air is drawn from ground level through a nozzle and turbine. An experimental model is proposed of overall height 5m and solar absorber area 3 x 3m with a turbine of diameter 0.4m. Calculation gives maximum air flow velocity of 31.21ms-1 (70 mph) at insolation 750 wm-2 and kinetic energy of 2.254 kw with an efficiency of 33.39%.