Features of the Solar Cyclone Tower Technology. Sensor Network for an Enhanced Solar Cyclone Tower

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• History and Context
  • History of the SCT
  • Manzanares prototype
  • Modern developement, Prototypes and projects
• Presentation of the SCT
  • Operating concept
  • The SCT’s different components
  • Estimate of the collector’s energetic balance
  • Influence of the collector size and chimney height
  • Water-harvesting with a Solar Cyclone Tower (SCT)
    • Nucleation
    • Water production
    • Effect of water production on the updraft
  • Overview of the SCT under scrutiny
  • Choosing an optimum location
• Opportunities and Advantages
  • Agriculture
  • Enhancing water harvesting
  • Heat and power management
    • Influence of the ground type
    • Enhancing soil energy storage
  • Food drying and extracting salts
  • Carbon Dioxide Capture
    • Methods
    • Vortex Tubes
  • Biofuels
  • Enhancing the collector roof with Organic Photovoltaics (OPVs)
  • Advantages
• Building a Physical Model
  • Characteristics
  • Conception
• Challenges in probing environmental variables
  • Thermal convection cells and irregularities
  • The effect of ambient crosswinds
  • Blockage walls to mitigate crosswind
• Options and solutions for sensing environmental variables
  • Real-time data for an active SCT
    • Insulated storage tanks
    • Controllable windows
    • Panels to direct airflow
    • Controllable swirl vanes
  • Temperature
  • Humidity
  • Sensing airflow
  • Measuring solar irradiance
  • A simple sensor for humidity and temperature sensing
    • Layout
    • Temperature and humidity dependance of the HCZ
    • Characterisation of the LM35
  • Developing a model
• Sensor placement
  • Placement Algorithm
  • Choosing the optimal number of sensors
• Summary and Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the Solar Cyclone Tower (SCT) technology, focusing on its potential for both electricity and water production. It explores the history, operating concept, and advantages of this sustainable technology, while also addressing challenges related to environmental variability and proposing solutions for sensing and managing these variables.

• The history and evolution of the Solar Cyclone Tower (SCT) technology
• The SCT's operating principle and design features
• The challenges of probing environmental variables within the SCT
• Technological solutions for sensing and managing environmental variables
• The potential for enhancing the SCT's electricity and water production through complementary technologies

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 2 traces the historical development of the SCT concept, from early inventions utilizing buoyancy to the modern iteration of the solar tower. It discusses the Manzanares prototype, a significant milestone in the technology's development, and highlights the various studies and prototypes undertaken around the world.
• Chapter 3 delves into the SCT's operating concept, providing a detailed explanation of its components and their roles in the energy conversion process. It explores the energetic balance of the collector, analyzes the relationship between chimney height and collector size, and presents a detailed explanation of the SCT's water-harvesting capabilities, particularly the cyclonic design for freshwater production.
• Chapter 4 focuses on opportunities and advantages of the SCT technology beyond electricity production. It explores potential applications for agriculture, water harvesting enhancement, heat and power management, food drying, salt extraction, carbon dioxide capture, biofuel production, and integration of organic photovoltaics (OPVs). The chapter also highlights the SCT's overall environmental benefits and its potential to act as an independent, sustainable ecosystem.
• Chapter 5 describes a physical model of the SCT, providing a practical illustration of the technology's design and operation. It discusses the model's characteristics, including the chimney structure, the collector, and the use of steam and LED lights to visually represent the swirling airflow and water condensation.
• Chapter 6 addresses the challenges in probing environmental variables within the SCT. It discusses the complex phenomenon of thermal convection cells and the impact of ambient crosswinds on the structure's performance. Solutions for mitigating the effects of crosswinds are also presented.
• Chapter 7 explores different technological solutions for sensing environmental variables within the SCT, including temperature, humidity, airflow, and solar irradiance. It compares the advantages and drawbacks of various sensing technologies and presents a detailed study of a simple temperature and humidity sensing module. The chapter also discusses the potential for developing a comprehensive energetic balance model to improve the sensor network's performance.
• Chapter 8 outlines a sensor placement algorithm and a method for determining the optimal number of sensors needed within the SCT. This chapter emphasizes the importance of strategic sensor placement to maximize data accuracy and minimize costs.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The thesis focuses on the Solar Cyclone Tower (SCT), its ability to generate electricity and produce water, and the challenges of sensing and managing environmental variables within the structure. Key terms include renewable energy, sustainable technology, electricity production, water harvesting, buoyancy, greenhouse effect, thermal convection cells, crosswinds, sensor networks, temperature sensing, humidity sensing, airflow sensing, solar irradiance, and sensor placement.