The Double-Acting Solar Tower: A Breakthrough in Clean Energy Generation
A team of researchers from Jordan and Qatar has developed an innovative structure called the “Double-Acting Solar Tower” (TTSS). This groundbreaking design is capable of generating clean energy around the clock and promises to produce twice as much energy as a standard solar air tower. The findings were published on Recharge News.
Combining Solar Air Tower and Cooling Tower Technologies
The TTSS combines two technologies: a solar air tower and a cooling tower. These elements are merged into a single structure, with the air tower located at the center.
The solar air tower harnesses the heating of air at the Earth’s surface, using the hot air lift to drive turbines in a high tower. The air is heated under a large dome, which covers a vast collection area designed to capture the maximum amount of heat.
In contrast, the cooling tower uses a descending flow of air to rotate another turbine. This effect is achieved by spraying a thin water gloom in the upper part of the tower, cooling the air and making it denser.
The TTSS Tower Design
The TTSS tower, designed by a research group representing Al-Hoisean Technical University in Jordan and the University of Catarus, has a height of 200 meters and a diameter of 13.6 meters. It consists of a collector with a diameter of 250 meters, with the air tower located in the middle and surrounded by 10 separate cooling towers.
Incredible Energy Output
Using local weather data, the researchers estimated that the TTSS tower could produce approximately 753 megawatt hours of energy per year. The external cooling towers would work around the clock, generating about 400 megawatt hours, while the air tower, more efficiently utilizing the intense heat of the sun, would contribute approximately 350 megawatt hours. These projections indicate that the TTSS tower can generate 2.14 times more energy than similar