Development of a solar-flux tracker for parabolic-trough collectors

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6608461· OSTI ID:6608461

Boultinghouse, K D

The development of a solar-flux tracker for application to a parabolic-trough solar-thermal collector is described. Tests were conducted at the Collector Module Test Facility and Performance Prototype Trough Test Facility on a resistance wire-type solar-flux sensor. The device consists of two fine wires installed along each side of the absorber tube parallel to the axis. The wires change resistance as a function of the solar flux arriving at the absorber from the reflectors. The resistance of the two wires is compared to produce a null signal when both wires are equally illuminated. The signal from the wires is used in combination with a microprocessor control system to drive the collectors to the optimum tracking angle. Comparisons are made between the performance of the flux tracker, a computer-based tracker, and a shadow-band tracker.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6608461
• Report Number(s): SAND82-1600; ON: DE83005361
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COST
CSP
Concentrating Solar Power
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
HELIOSTATS
MATERIALS TESTING
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTORS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR FLUX
SOLAR TRACKING
SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEMS
TESTING
THERMAL CYCLING
WIRES