Evaluation of the Effect of Components of Solar Chimneys on Their Performance in Hot and Arid Cities of Iran

In this paper, a solar chimney has been investigated to determine its environmental effects and the impact of its components on the volume of air exhausted through the chimney’s outlet under various climate conditions.Simulations were carried out using EnergyPlus software. First, the model was implemented and developed within the software. Second, the influence of climatic factors on the solar chimney’s performance was examined. Finally, the effect of solar chimney components on their performance in Yazd city during the hottest day of the year was assessed. The results highlight the significant influence of the solar chimney’s configuration on its performance. Solar radiation intensity and air temperature directly correlate with the solar chimney’s efficiency, while humidity exhibits an inverse correlation. Additionally, the solar chimney’s performance is affected by its height and the thermal mass behind it. On the hottest day of the year, increasing the chimney’s height from 3 meters to 6 meters leads to a 56% increase in exhaust air volume, and the addition of a thermal insulator during the same period results in a 21% increase. However, the use of single or double-glazed glass and the type of thermal mass do not significantly impact the solar chimney’s performance. Conversely, reducing the cross-sectional area of the solar chimney channel can increase exhaust air volume by increasing airflow velocity and preventing reverse airflow effects.