Thermal performance analysis of novel receiver for parabolic trough solar collector

Abstract

Parabolic trough concentrating solar technology (PTC) is the most deployed technology among all solar thermal technologies. The conventional receivers (heat collection elements, HCEs) suffer from issues of high-technology fabrication, high cost and frequent operational failures. This work proposes a novel parabolic trough receiver design which is facile to fabricate, maintain and repair for long-run solar field operation. The novel receiver is tested experimentally (by indoor heat loss testing) to validate a comprehensive numerical model which is then used to simulate various cases. Effect of inclination angle, absorber temperature, surface emissivity, aperture angle and thermal contact resistance are quantitatively studied by the two-dimensional numerical model incorporating natural convection and surface radiation. The resulting thermal performance is compared with standard evacuated commercial HCEs. Whereas commercial evacuated HCEs cost between 250 and 350 $/m, we show that the novel receiver costs only 42 $/m. Insights from the detailed numerical model are incorporated into a technoeconomic comparison of a solar field raising thermic fluid by 100 K from 566 K and fitted with the novel receiver and the Schott PTR HCE. The difference in cost is about 6%.