Parametric optimization of novel solar chimney power plant using response surface methodology

CFD and experimental approaches are used to carry out the design of a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) that consists of a Semi Convergent Collector that is equipped with a Divergent Chimney. The present work engages in figuring out the importance of study variables in statistic modelling thereby improving the efficiency. Both the response surface methodology (RSM) and the single objective approach (SOA) are used in the process of determining the amounts of influential parameters and optimizing the model. Experiment test on a small-scaled model is carried out with inclined Collector to a Divergent Chimney. The CFD result indicates that the updraft effect increases because of the convergent collector with mean temperature rise of 18 K. Experiment and simulation results are in good agreement. The numerical model predicted that the increment in outside temperature leads to increment in mass flow rate, velocity, inside temperature, power output and efficiency of the plant. Hence the single input model predicted the values for five outputs. The numerical model seems to be fit with experimental study with an increase in mass flow rate from 0.04 kg/s to 0.06 kg/s with incremental time step. The deviation between the experimental and numerical studies lies only 0.423. Developing a larger size model helps in achieving larger power output. It is recommended that the semi convergent collector with a divergent chimney adopts for construction of large size SCPP for generating greener energy. •Semi Convergent Collector and Divergent Chimney uses CFD and experimental methods.•Experimental and numerical investigations differ by 0.423%.•The convergent collector enhances the updraft effect by 18 K, according to CFD.•The mean efficiency of 0.80 reached with 40.5 °C outside temperature.