Parabolic trough performance analysis techniques

Abstract

Parabolic trough collectors have proven over many years the solar field performance in the Californian SEGS plants. At the time of market introduction of the next generation trough collectors a number of improvements have been introduced to increase their energy output. Analysis of geometry and optical properties uses a number of specific techniques that have demonstrated to be useful tools in prototype evaluation. They have now been developed to quality assurance techniques during construction and to checking procedures for acceptance tests of the solar field. The methods have been cross-checked and compared to previous ones. This paper summarizes the authors’ results in collector shape measurement, ray-tracing, flux-measurement and thermal performance analysis. It is shown that the methods and parameter analyses give consistent results. The interpretation of the results and their annual evaluation can give hints on identified improvement potentials for the following generation of solar power plant collectors.