KONTAS - A Rotary Test Bench for Standardized Qualifiacation of Parabolic Trough Components

Abstract

A rotary test bench for parabolic trough collector components was erected at Plataforma Solar de Almería, Spain. The test bench allows the qualification of all collector components of complete moudles of up to 20 m length, i.e. structures, reflectors, recievers and flexible joints. It is equipped with high precision instrumentation and controls to allow for precise, quick and automated measurements. An active temperature control allows the operation at constant conditions. The overall accuracy for performance measurements of collector modules was expedted to be 2-3%. First measurements are presented that verify the oustanding precision of the test bench.