Upgrading Low Exergy Geothermal Resources to Higher Exergy Resources Applying Hybrid Power Generation System

Abstract

In this research the solar chimney combined with wind power was investigated as a novel idea of hybrid power generation system. This system is designed for power generation with wind turbine, which has been placed in bottom of the chimney (tower). Wind blade circulates due to known phenomena of “hot air rises” because of temperature difference between lower and upper parts of the tower, which creates thermal updraft air. As long as thermal updraft is induced inside the tower by solar radiation, this system can produce electricity. This system requires wide area with acceptable solar radiation to maintain steady power production. Considering capital investment of proposed system, the efficiency is lower compare to that of other solar power generation methods. To overcome this disadvantage and to utilize low temperature geothermal resources, a new hybrid system was proposed that uses solar chimney idea, wind blade and geothermal heat source. Quantitative analysis of proposed system was performed to achieve basic ground for further developments. An experiment was designed and set up in small scale consists of tower and a pool containing hot water as a heat source. This paper describes outcomes of experiment and compares them to the results from quantitative analysis.