Thermo-economic evaluation and structural simulation of a parabolic solar collector (PTC) integrated with a desalination system

Abstract

In last decades because of the increase in water demand various technologies used to increase the performance of desalination systems and decreasing the cost of produced water. In the present research, the thermal and economic performance of a parabolic trough collector connected to a desalination system was analyzed. Moreover, in order to improve the thermal efficiency of the collector, the effect of wind speed (considering the position of the collector) on the deflection of the collector and thermal performance was evaluated. By increasing the wind speed the thermal efficiency decreases. The twist angle at the end of the reflecting shaft was considered for calculations. Ansys analysis was used to survey the structural behavior of the collector at various conditions. The results of the experimental test demonstrated that for all three positions, the twist angle of the shaft increases as well Moreover, due to the fluctuation of the solar radiation the fluid temperature flows in the collector is not homogenous. Using materials with higher latent heat decreases the thermal fluctuations. In the present work PCM in the spiral tube was installed inside of the receiver tube. The results implied that the maximum twist angle was obtained for the wind speed of 30 km/h at the right position. The deviation from the focal line increased the heat loss, thus optimization process was applied to the system considering the maximum wind speed of 124 km/h. The produced water for 15, 22 and 30 km/h is 722, 557 and 351 ml/m2 in 4 h, respectively. The economic analysis implied that using proposed system would cause a decrease in the payback time.