Developing optical and thermal models with experimental validation of parabolic trough collector for moroccan industrial heat applications

Abstract

This work presents the development of advanced optical and thermal models for parabolic trough collector systems (PTCs) through an extensive experimental study utilizing a PTMx-24 collector from Soltigua company, installed at Green Energy Park (GEP) research facility. The optical model leverages Tonatiuh software, employing the Monte Carlo Ray Tracing (MCRT) method. Moreover, a MATLAB script was adjusted to account for Incidence Angle Modifier (IAM) fluctuations in the optical analysis, while incorporating receiver thermal parameters for the thermal analysis. This study assesses the potential of PTCs in the territory of Solar Heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP) over various seasons within a semi-arid climate, offering invaluable insights for sustainable energy utilization. The validation of the models was conducted across four distinct days characterized by diverse meteorological conditions. The optical model demonstrates a remarkable correlation of 97.04 % between the MATLAB script and experimental results. Additionally, results from Tonatiuh software exhibited an important accuracy of 95.92 %. The thermal model showcased outstanding precision, revealing a correlation of 98.5 % compared to experimental results, signifying its adaptability to collectors of varying geometries and parameters. These findings highlight the predictive potential of these models, aiding in the decision-making process to determine the system's performance on specific days with specific meteorological conditions.