Structural Design and Analysis of a Solar Receiver Integrated With a Wind Tower for Cost Efficiency in Concentrated Solar Power Systems

This study aims to bridge the gap between wind and solar technologies by utilizing wind tower calculations-covering aspects such as drag force distribution, stress analysis, and structural dynamics-tailored to the specific requirements of the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) tower. To ensure accuracy, wind load parameters were evaluated with respect to height, considering variations in geographic conditions at installation sites. The analysis demonstrates that wind tower design principles can facilitate CSP tower construction, reduce material costs, and sustain structural integrity, presenting a viable alternative to conventional CSP-specific designs. The conventional CSP tower, typically constructed from concrete, is instead designed as a steel monopole structure, leading to material cost reduction while maintaining structural resilience The stress analysis reveals that the maximum stress concentration of 22.89 MPa occurs at the foundation, where bending moments are most significant. Additionally, the total bending moment at the foundation is calculated to be 171.22 MN.m, confirming the structural capacity of the steel monopole under wind-induced loads. Deflection analysis indicates that the maximum displacement of 0.074 m occurs at the top of the tower, amounting to only 0.06% of the total tower height, well within acceptable safety limits. Validation of these results against similar wind tower structures further supports the feasibility of applying wind tower methodologies to CSP towers. The findings emphasize the potential for cross-industry application of wind tower computations in CSP projects, driving down capital costs while meeting durability and reliability standards as per International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) codes.