Numerical analysis of solar chimney power plant system: Algeria as a case study

Solar energy holds great significance in the research programs on renewable energy. Recent studies show that with the use of solar energy, we can create a movement of air in the form of artificial wind. This air flow is used to drive one or more wind turbines and produce electrical energy. At this conversion appear thermal and dynamic coupled phenomena. The objective of this work is to simulate these phenomena in the solar chimney to estimate the electrical power produced by the solar chimney power plant as well as to study the effect of different climatic conditions on energy production in some regions of Algeria, using the commercial code Fluent. A solar chimney of 200 m height and 240 m collector diameter is capable of producing electrical power from 40 to 70 KW monthly as a yearly average. The results for the regions of Constantine, Ouargla, Adrar and Tamanrasset are consistent with the literature.