Performance Evaluation of Solar Parabolic Trough Collector with Stainless Steel Sheet as a Reflector
Abstract
This paper was concerned with an experimental study of parabolic trough concentrator designed and constructed. A parabolic trough solar collector uses Stainless steel sheet in the shape of parabolic cylinder to reflect and concentrate sun radiations towards an absorber tube made of G.I pipe located at the focus line of the parabolic trough collector. The receiver tube absorbs the incoming radiation and transforms them into thermal energy, the latter being transported and collected by a fluid medium circulating within the absorber tube. This experimental study, includes design, construction and testing the performance of PTC, at various parameters.
Keywords
Download Options
Introduction
The Improper use of fossil fuels has led to negative imbalance in the natural environment so need of using both nonrenewable and renewable energy resources were taken to be the main aim and the utilization objective outlined the need to use energy efficiently. Solar energy is the primary renewable source of energy for our planet. In the present work, an attempt has been made to design, fabricate, evaluate and the performance of a Parabolic Trough Concentrator (PTC) , to produce hot water, by using stainless steel sheet as a reflector materials. A Parabolic Trough Collector uses reflector in the shape of parabolic cylinder to reflect and concentrate sun radiation towards an absorber tube located at the focus line of the parabolic cylinder. The receiver absorbs the incoming radiation and transforms them into useful energy, and latter being transported and collected by a fluid medium circulating within the absorber tube. The aperture diameter, rim angle, reflector property and absorber size and shape defines the PTC. The absorber tube is made of a G.I pipe for quick heat, low cost and protection from corrosion on outer surface of tube.
Conclusion
In the present work, the performance of a new parabolic trough collector for hot water generation system is investigated through experiments over one full day in the month of May 2016. The maximum value of each of those parameters is observed around noon, when the incident beam radiation is at its peak. The fabrication and design of a solar parabolic trough collector using locally available materials is possible hence low temperature trough will be a better solar thermal device for the rural and remote area. From the result it has been seen that the parabolic trough is better option to reduce the water heating cost. This research has its own special features, maintenance cost is minimum and hence economical, running cost is nil, the labour cost is minimized on account of its simple design. As other forms of energy are fast depleting and polluting the atmosphere, non-conventional energy resources like solar energy are best suited to use. The solar parabolic trough is among the best way to use solar energy efficiently due to its advantages to convert abundantly available solar energy into effective and convenient form of heat energy which can be use for various purposes.