Numerical analysis of solar enhanced natural draft dry cooling tower configuration

Solar enhanced natural draft dry cooling tower (SENDDCT) is a new heat rejection device using solar energy to enhance its cooling performance. In an attempt to find out the optimal structural arrangement of SENDDCT, this paper conducts three-dimensional CFD simulations to compare cooling performances of various design options. The simulations commence by investigating whether the design option with lower height heat exchangers at collector entrance has better cooling performance than that with partial blockage at the same location. Then the simulations compare the thermal performances of SENDDCTs with different sunroof and tower shape design, namely horizontal sunroof plus parabolic tower or titled sunroof plus cylindrical tower. Finally, analyses of the simulation results show that the design option with the partial blockage at the collector entrance, horizontal sunroof and parabolic tower would be the optimal selection in terms of thermal performance and structural robustness. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.