Analysis of the influence of geography and weather on parabolic trough solar collector design
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 (optical error, sigma/sub system/ less than or equal to 0.007 radian) 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 National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-04-0789
- OSTI ID:
- 5528378
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-79-2032
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTORS
PERFORMANCE
CLIMATES
CONFIGURATION
DESIGN
GEOGRAPHY
S CODES
SIMULATION
SOLAR RECEIVERS
SOLAR TRACKING
WEATHER
COMPUTER CODES
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
EQUIPMENT
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
CSP
Concentrating Solar Power
141000* - Solar Collectors & Concentrators