Numerical investigation of CSP air cooled condenser fan

CSP power plants are usually installed in desert regions due to the high availability of direct normal irradiance during the year. This usually entails the unavailability of water to be used for condensation in Rankine cycle and the consequent choice of air-cooled condensers (ACCs) [1]. When dealing with ACCs the main mechanical component is the fan, that drives fresh air towards the heat exchangers driving all the process. The main characteristic of this fan is its size that spans from 7 to 13 m of external diameters, thus resulting in a series of technical problems to be addressed. Such high-volume and low speed fans present critical problem during the testing phase [2]. This dissertation focuses on the certification of fan performance, that follows ISO 5801 [3].