A Numerical Study on the Improvement of the Thermal Performance of a Solar Chimney Power Plant with Variation in the Absorber

Solar Chimney Power Plants (SCPPs) are a promising technology in the advancement of renewable energy systems. Among the various important design parameters, the geometry of the absorber surface plays a pivotal role in determining system performance. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the absorber surface geometry and height on the thermal and aerodynamic behavior of SCPPs. Five absorber configurations were investigated: standard, 3-square, 4-square, 5-square, and 6-square arrangements. Additionally, the effect of varying absorber surface heights was examined to identify optimal design parameters. The simulation results demonstrate that the 5-square configuration delivered the highest performance relative to the standard flat-absorber system, particularly at an absorber height of H₀ = 7.5 cm, where the maximum airflow velocity reached 24.45 m/s and the power output peaked at 258.38 W. The 3-square configuration also showed notable performance at H₀ = 5 cm, generating up to 156.82 W and achieving the lowest internal atmospheric pressure, indicative of improved convective flow. Overall, the findings emphasize the substantial influence of absorber surface design on SCPP efficiency, confirming that multi-square absorber configurations can significantly enhance power generation through improved thermal and fluid dynamic behavior.