What is a parabolic trough (solar) collector?

Parabolic trough (solar) collectors (PTCs) are technical devices to collect the energy in form of solar radiation and convert it typically into thermal energy at temperature ranges of 150–500°C at industrial scale.

How does a solar trough work?

These troughs can track the Sun around one axis, typically oriented north–south to ensure the highest possible efficiency. The fluid flows through this tube and absorbs heat from the concentrated solar energy. Similar to a parabolic trough is a linear Fresnel system.

What is a parabolic trough solar concentrator?

The traditional parabolic trough solar concentrator is widely used in the solar collection field, especially in a solar thermal power plant, because it has the most mature technology. Under the condition of accuracy tracking by a precise mechanism, it can achieve heat at a temperature higher than 400°C.

What are the tracking modes of parabolic trough concentrating collectors?

Depending on the number of tracking axes, the tracking modes of parabolic trough concentrating collectors can be classified as dual-axis and single-axis solar tracking modes.

Does a parabolic trough concentrating collector receive direct solar radiation?

Therefore, for the purpose of optimizing the tracking mode of the parabolic trough concentrating collectors, the current work applied Hottel’s clear-day radiation model with an aim to study the amount of direct solar radiation received by the parabolic mirror within a year under different tracking modes in Shanghai.

How wide is a PTC trough?

Typical width of such PTC is 0.5–10 m. Main use of PTC is in solar power generation. In large-scale concentrating solar power applications, the PTC is the most successful type of concentrating collector design. The first troughs are reported at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century for industrial-scale steam generation.