What is the Manzanares solar chimney?
The Manzanares solar chimney was a prototype built in Spain in the early 1980’s. The experimental chimney was financed by the German and Spanish governments and operated successfully for 7 years. The chimney had a diameter of 10 m and a height of 200 m. The base of the chimney was surrounded by a 200 m diameter greenhouse with an open outer rim. The transparent plastic roof of the greenhouse was 2 m above the ground. A vertical axis turbine consisting of a rotor similar to a helicopter rotor drove an electrical generator. The greenhouse increased the air temperature 20C above ambient. The maximum electrical power output was 50 kW. The power output was steadier than that of conventional wind turbines. The solar chimney would start automatically shortly after sunrise, synchronize and connect to the Spanish electrical grid. The chimney was supported with guy wires. Unfortunately the chimney was eventually blown down in a wind storm. The Manzanares chimney demonstrated the feasibility of s
