Analysis of a Solar Updraft Tower Utilizing Compost Waste Heat

This paper presents the results for a feasibility study of a solar chimney which uses low-grade waste heat from compost in conjunction with solar energy transmitted via a transparent roof top. The feasibility study shows that the solar chimney’s turbine power increases with pressure ratio, the height of the chimney as well as the differential temperature in the chamber. This paper also outlines the thermodynamic modeling related to using waste heat from composting to increase the air temperature in the inlet chamber of a solar chimney. It is found that from this analysis that the average temperature in the chamber increases as a function of the chimney inlet chamber axial length. For a chimney 1150 ft (350 m) high and 24 ft (7.3 m) in diameter processing 8000 tons of composting material it is found that a power output of 38 kW can be harnessed at the turbine.