Optimization and modelling of linear Fresnel reflector solar concentrator using various methods based on Monte Carlo Ray–Trace

Abstract

A Linear Fresnel Reflector Solar Concentrator (LFRSC) consists of three main parts primary mirrors, a secondary reflector, and an absorber tube. However, the primary mirrors, as well as the secondary reflector, need to be more effective than conventional ones for optimal results. In this paper, an LFRSC is considered to optimize its construction to obtain higher efficiency. First, the primary mirrors are considered slightly curved to more concentrate on the rays, and then, the secondary reflector should forward the received rays to the absorber tube. Therefore, a novel structure of the secondary reflector is also proposed that is made of the composition of two simple reflectors. For simulation of LFRSC behavior, a robustness method based on the Monte Carlo Ray Tracing (MCRT) is used, which could model its performance, with more than 97 % precision. In the next step, three scenarios as small and medium-size, and full optimization modules, have self–advantages and disadvantages. Then, the Improved Prey Predator Optimization Algorithm (IPPOA) is introduced and used for problem optimization. In addition, other algorithms are investigated and the results are compared. The results of the small-size module with various methods are similar, however, the efficiency obtained by IPPOA is 47.13 %. In the case of medium size, the IPPOA has reached an efficiency of 42.5 %, which is lower than the efficiency of small size. Moreover, the width of the mirrors in the medium case is higher than the small size. In the third optimization case, the final efficiency with IPPOA is calculated as 47.88. As a result, case one, small size, is chosen as the cost-efficient model, and case three, full optimized, is considered as the high-efficiency model.