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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Economic and performance potential of selected improvements to parabolic troughs

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5350009
Improved parabolic trough concentrating collectors will result from better design, improved fabrication techniques, and the development and use of improved materials. An easily applied methodology is presented and implemented that quantifies the performance potential of selected parabolic trough component improvements from a systems viewpoint and uses performance data to determine the economic value of each improvement. Specifically considered are evacuated receivers, silvered glass reflectors, improved receiver selective coatings, higher optical accuracy concentrators, and higher transmittance receiver glazings. Upper-bound costs for each improvement are provided as well as estimates of the increased solar energy system rates of return made possible by these improvements. The performance and economic potentials of some of these improvements are substantial, especially at higher collector operating temperatures.
Research Organization:
Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-77CH00178
OSTI ID:
5350009
Report Number(s):
SERI/TP-632-1319; CONF-820410-4; ON: DE82010402
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English