This increases the amount of power that the PV cells generate and can increase the system's efficiency by up to 50%. The curved surface of a parabolic trough collector is used to collect and focus sunlight onto a small area of PV cells. This focused energy is then used to generate electrical power using PV cells. The collector consists of a parabolic reflector that focuses the sun’s energy onto a small area. In this type of system, concentrated sunlight is used to generate electrical power. Solar energy →Thermal energy →Kinetic energy →Electrical energy Applications of Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors Concentrating PVsĪ parabolic trough solar collector can be used as a concentrating photovoltaic (PV) system. ![]() The energy conversion that occurs in a parabolic trough solar collector are as follows: When the thermal energy is transmitted to the receiver, the working gas inside the heat engine pipes expands, driving pistons that in turn move a crankshaft that drives an electricity-producing generator. The heat engine contains pipes that carry a working gas. The mirrors of a parabolic trough solar dish focus the solar radiation onto a receiver mounted onto the central location of the parabolic dish along with a heat engine. How does a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector Convert Sun Power to Electrical Energy? (The Working Principle) The most common types of heat engines for parabolic trough solar collector systems are the Stirling engine and the Brayton cycle engine. It converts thermal energy to kinetic energy.Ī heat engine can also be operated independently by using the heat transfer fluid from the receiver. ![]() The heat engine is an external combustion engine that heats and cools a working gas sealed in a cylinder. Helium is an excellent working fluid for parabolic trough solar collectors, provided the operating temperature is 700K and below. Air has the advantage of being non-volatile, but it is less efficient than water because it can only absorb a limited amount of heat. The disadvantage is that water can evaporate, which can cause the system to lose efficiency. The main advantage of using water as the working fluid is that it’s a renewable resource. The most common working fluids for parabolic trough solar collectors are water and air, but other fluids such as helium can also be used. The working gas in the tube is heated by the sun and flows to a heat exchanger, where it transfers its heat to water, which is then used to generate power. The solar reflector dish should be mounted to the dual-axis solar tracker so that it’s always oriented to the sun's direction.
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