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Title: Analysis of the influence of geography and weather on parabolic trough solar collector design. [SOLTES code]

Conference · · Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., (Pap.); (United States)
OSTI ID:7034785

The potential performance of single-axis tracking parabolic trough solar collectors as a function of optical energy distribution and receiver size has been calculated for eleven sites using typical meteorological year input data. A simulation based on the SOLTES code was developed which includes the three-dimensional features of a parabolic trough and calculates the thermooptical tradeoffs. The capability of the thermooptical model has been confirmed by the comparison of calculated results with the experimental results from an all-day test of a parabolic trough. The results from this eleven-site analysis indicate a potential performance superiority of a north-south horizontal axis trough and, in addition, a high quality collector should be of the same geometric design for all of the sites investigated and probably for all regions of the country.

Research Organization:
Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
OSTI ID:
7034785
Report Number(s):
CONF-800804-
Journal Information:
Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., (Pap.); (United States), Vol. 80-C2/SOL-19; Conference: ASME century 2 emerging technology conference, San Francisco, CA, USA, 10 Aug 1980
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English