Solar hot air tower for power generation

Daox · 12-26-12, 01:47 PM

This is something I haven't heard of before so I thought I'd post it. The article is from about a year and a half ago so it sadly doesn't sound like it went through, but the idea is pretty cool.

The operation is pretty simple, you heat air and it goes up the tower in the middle. It sucks cooler air from around the circle of what seems to be a glass canopy. That moving air goes through turbines and generates power.

http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-...megawatts.html

Piwoslaw · 12-26-12, 03:02 PM

I read about this before. A solar "chimney" was supposed to be built in Australia, but I never heard about it actually happen.

I wonder at what size scale does this start to actually become worthwhile?

BTW Is the url of the link OK? I get a "Page not found" from TreeHugger.

Daox · 12-26-12, 03:18 PM

Whoops, fixed the link. One too many slashes in there.

I thought the same thing about the scale. Could one simply use some solar hot air panels to do something similar on a smaller sale?

Mikesolar · 12-26-12, 03:31 PM

The construction manager for this project was my heat pump mentors first apprentice so he was invited down to see the project this past summer. He is very proud of the dude and the project. There is also similar ones being built in Spain and Oz.

Daox · 12-26-12, 10:13 PM

Very cool. Do you have any additional info on the power plant?

Mikesolar · 12-27-12, 05:36 PM

i'll see if I can get any pics or other info.....

Daox · 01-08-13, 08:56 AM

Any luck with that info Mike?

Mikesolar · 01-10-13, 05:39 AM

unfortunately not. The old man sent me pics but I can't find anything anymore. He did say that some parts of the project are stalled due to some fire dept regs but didn't go any further......

If I get more info I will post it...

Daox · 01-10-13, 08:48 AM

Thanks. Its a pretty interesting concept. Do you know if anything has actually been built yet? Or is it all hung up in planning?

herlichka · 01-11-13, 03:37 PM

I know it comes down to cost analysis, but there must potential here (pardon the pun). The revolving door was invented to counteract the enormous vacuum that highrise elevator shafts and stairwells put on the lobby doors because of warm air convection. I wonder how may tall walls on the sunny end of reidential highrises could be retrofitted with collectors.

12-26-12, 01:47 PM	#1
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Solar hot air tower for power generation This is something I haven't heard of before so I thought I'd post it. The article is from about a year and a half ago so it sadly doesn't sound like it went through, but the idea is pretty cool. The operation is pretty simple, you heat air and it goes up the tower in the middle. It sucks cooler air from around the circle of what seems to be a glass canopy. That moving air goes through turbines and generates power. http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-...megawatts.html __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by Daox; 12-26-12 at 03:17 PM..

12-26-12, 03:02 PM	#2
Piwoslaw Super Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 961 Thanks: 188 Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts	I read about this before. A solar "chimney" was supposed to be built in Australia, but I never heard about it actually happen. I wonder at what size scale does this start to actually become worthwhile? BTW Is the url of the link OK? I get a "Page not found" from TreeHugger. __________________ Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog.

12-26-12, 03:18 PM	#3
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Whoops, fixed the link. One too many slashes in there. I thought the same thing about the scale. Could one simply use some solar hot air panels to do something similar on a smaller sale? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-26-12, 10:13 PM	#5
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Very cool. Do you have any additional info on the power plant? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-08-13, 08:56 AM	#7
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Any luck with that info Mike? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-26-12, 03:31 PM	#4
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	The construction manager for this project was my heat pump mentors first apprentice so he was invited down to see the project this past summer. He is very proud of the dude and the project. There is also similar ones being built in Spain and Oz.

12-27-12, 05:36 PM	#6
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	i'll see if I can get any pics or other info.....

01-10-13, 05:39 AM	#8
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	unfortunately not. The old man sent me pics but I can't find anything anymore. He did say that some parts of the project are stalled due to some fire dept regs but didn't go any further...... If I get more info I will post it...

01-10-13, 08:48 AM	#9
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Thanks. Its a pretty interesting concept. Do you know if anything has actually been built yet? Or is it all hung up in planning? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-11-13, 03:37 PM	#10
herlichka Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada Posts: 102 Thanks: 11 Thanked 15 Times in 10 Posts	I know it comes down to cost analysis, but there must potential here (pardon the pun). The revolving door was invented to counteract the enormous vacuum that highrise elevator shafts and stairwells put on the lobby doors because of warm air convection. I wonder how may tall walls on the sunny end of reidential highrises could be retrofitted with collectors.

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