Design Limitations of Laboratory Solar Chimney for Engineering Education

This paper presents numerical and experimental investigations of a small-scale solar chimney power plant with a tower height of 50 cm. Numerical thermodynamic analysis was carried out in the ANSYS 2022 R1 (22.1) software, and the results were compared with the mathematical model of the Manzanares prototype. The results indicate that there is a geometry limit for which boundary physics overcomes the resultant upward force. Upon obtaining initial parameters in CAD and CFD software, further experimental measurements were conducted on a physical model enhanced with fans to induce the air flow in accordance with the Nyquist criterion. The structure could not withstand the mechanical force needed for continuous turbine rotation.