Low-temperature IPH parabolic troughs: design variations and cost-reduction potential

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5459273· OSTI ID:5459273

Gee, R. C.

Parabolic trough concentrating collectors have improved in performance and reliability since the US Department of Energy's solar thermal program began. The development of components has been tailored to meeting instantaneous collector performance goals at an operating temperature of 315/sup 0/C (600/sup 0/F). Although this strategy has resulted in advanced component designs and excellent collector performance at 315/sup 0/C, it has also necessitated somewhat stringent, expensive component design requirements. Near-term parabolic trough collector systems are too expensive to compete widely with conventional fossil-fuel systems. This report describes how collector costs can be reduced with lower-temperature designs. Industrial process heating energy use at below 150/sup 0/C (300/sup 0/F) is over five times greater than that at from 200/sup 0/ to 315/sup 0/C (400/sup 0/F to 600/sup 0/F). Component designs for lower temperatures are considered, including less rigid, lighter-weight concentrators; alternative concentrator constructions; larger receivers; and multiple-row drive systems.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 5459273
• Report Number(s): SERI/TR-253-1662; ON: DE84000024
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140905
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
COST
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY
EQUIPMENT
FORECASTING
HEAT
INDUSTRY
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTORS
PROCESS HEAT
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR PROCESS HEAT
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE