Prediction of captured solar energy for different orientations and tracking modes of a PTC system: Technical feasibility study (Case study: South eastern of MOROCCO)

Abstract

In this paper, a technical feasibility study on a parabolic trough concentrator (PTC) system for predicting the captured energy in different orientations and tracking modes has been investigated. Thus, the potential of captured solar radiation by a PTC has been estimated by combining simulations and different mathematical models, atmospheric parameters and optical as well as geometric characteristics of the PTC under climate conditions of Errachidia region in south eastern of Morocco (latitude 31.93° N, longitude −4.53° E, altitude 1039 m). Moreover, simulations study for an annual period was carried out using Matlab and TRNSYS for different orientations and tracking modes for the investigated PTC system. From the simulations result we noticed a higher mean daily PTC thermal efficiency of about 28.2% during summer solstice for a full tracking. However, the thermal efficiency of the PTC remains about 27.5% during spring equinox for full tracking and inclined N-S axis (E-W tracking), while it is around 24.2% for full tracking and polar axis (E-W tracking) and about 22.5% for full tracking during autumn equinox and winter solstice, respectively. These first results may enable to forecast the region potential and the feasibility of the investigated system for various orientations and tracking modes for each annual period. In addition, the simulation results clearly show that the studied region remains a suitable location to install PTC systems.