Design of Commercial Solar Tower Systems: Utilization of Solar Induced Convective Flows for Power Generation

Abstract

An updraft Solar Tower power plant — sometimes also called ‘solar chimney’ — is a solar thermal power plant utilizing a combination of solar air collector and central updraft tube to generate a solar induced convective flow which drives pressure staged turbines to generate electricity. In the paper we first describe the functional principle of the Solar Tower and give some results from designing, building and operating a small scale prototype in Spain. Then future commercial Solar Tower systems like the one being planned for Australia are described. We present technical issues and basic economic data.