Volume 11 Issue 2 ( June )

This study presents a numerical simulation of a solar chimney power plant with and without vegetation, aiming to investigate the impact of incorporating plant cultivation at the collector level. The simulation, conducted for two typical days (30-12-2021 and 04-01-2022), explores the variations in fluid temperature and velocity inside the collector in response to solar radiation and the ambient temperature specific to the Bouzaréah site in northern Algeria. The presence of vegetation, represented by tomato cultivation, demonstrates significant effects on system performance. The collector's efficiency exhibits notable differences between scenarios with and without vegetation, with the vegetation-free system-performing better during periods of intense sunlight. However, as solar radiation diminishes towards the end of the day, the system with vegetation outperforms, highlighting its resilience in lower radiation conditions. The internal conditions of the collector, especially in the presence of vegetation, appear conducive to plant growth. Interestingly, the study concludes that the presence of vegetation does not adversely affect the overall efficiency of the solar chimney power plant. On the contrary, integrating vegetation at the collector level enhances the overall efficiency of the solar chimney power plant, potentially reducing the cost per kilowatt-hour produced and, consequently, shortening the payback period for the initial investment. This study provides valuable insights for further exploration of this hybrid approach in the field of solar energy.

Keywords: solar chimney, vegetation, efficiency, energy, heat, turbulent