Receiver assembly design studies for 2-m 90/sup 0/ parabolic-cylindrical solar collectors

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5907679· OSTI ID:5907679

Ratzel, A. C.

Results are presented from a parametric study of the Sandia Laboratories' second-generation 2-m, 90/sup 0/ parabolic-cylindrical solar collector design. A computer simulation was developed to provide cumulative all-day performance results or instantaneous solar-noon results for three annular solar receiver assemblies: 2.223-, 2.54-, and 3.175-cm-o.d. tubes with concentric glass jackets. Representative clear spring, summer, and winter conditions for Albuquerque, NM, were modeled. Design problems considered in the analysis included misalignment of the receiver assembly from the focal line, reflector trough tracking bias, variation in receiver tube operating temperature, and variation in the reflector trough one-dimensional slope errors and two-dimensional mirror errors. Changes in collector material radiative properties and wind effects are also summarized, and comparative performance results for evacuated versus nonevacuated annular receivers are given. Summarized performance results for all studies are provided graphically. For operating receiver-tube temperatures < 475 K, the 3.175-cm receiver tube provides the best overall collector performance results. For higher operating temperatures where detrimental receiver heat losses become more significant, the smaller 2.54-cm tube is more effective for solar energy collection.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 5907679
• Report Number(s): SAND-79-1026
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTORS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
PERFORMANCE
SOLAR ABSORBERS
ALIGNMENT
ANNULAR SPACE
DESIGN
ERRORS
GEOMETRY
INSOLATION
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOLAR TRACKING
WEATHER
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
CONFIGURATION
MATHEMATICS
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
SIMULATION
SOLAR COLLECTORS
VARIATIONS
CSP
Concentrating Solar Power
141000* - Solar Collectors &amp; Concentrators