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A design method for optimizing the secondary reflector of a parabolic trough solar concentrator to achieve uniform heat flux distribution

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  • Tang, X.Y.
  • Yang, W.W.
  • Yang, Y.
  • Jiao, Y.H.
  • Zhang, T.

Abstract

Non-uniform solar flux distribution in a parabolic trough concentrator (PTC) causes large temperature gradients on absorber tube surface, making the PTC inefficient and damaged. To solve the problem, a novel method is proposed for designing the additional secondary reflector (SR) in a PTC to improve uniform heat flux distribution on absorber tube surface. In the design, the heat flux between upper and lower surfaces of absorber tube is well balanced by optimizing the location of absorber. Then, the SR with segmented broken-line type composed of multiple plane mirrors is delicately designed with local heat flux compensation strategy. Two case studies are conducted to compare the performances of the newly designed SRs with other existing SR designs. It is shown that the uniformity of heat flux distribution can be improved to over 90% for present SR design, much higher than those for other existing SR designs. Also, the optical efficiency of the PTC with present SR design is also increased as compared with other designs. The results indicate that this proposed method is competent for designing SR in a PTC with uniform heat flux distribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Tang, X.Y. & Yang, W.W. & Yang, Y. & Jiao, Y.H. & Zhang, T., 2021. "A design method for optimizing the secondary reflector of a parabolic trough solar concentrator to achieve uniform heat flux distribution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:229:y:2021:i:c:s036054422100997x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.120749
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    Cited by:

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    5. Yang, Wei-Wei & Tang, Xin-Yuan & Ma, Xu & Li, Jia-Chen & Xu, Chao & He, Ya-Ling, 2023. "Rapid prediction, optimization and design of solar membrane reactor by data-driven surrogate model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    6. Tang, Xin-Yuan & Yang, Wei-Wei & Ma, Xu & He, Ya-Ling, 2024. "Bionic leaf-inspired catalyst bed structure for solar membrane reactor aiming at efficient hydrogen production and separation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    7. Tang, Xin-Yuan & Yang, Wei-Wei & Ma, Xu & Cao, Xiangkun Elvis, 2023. "An integrated modeling method for membrane reactors and optimization study of operating conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    8. Zhang, Qiangqiang & Chang, Zheshao & Fu, Mingkai & Nie, Fuliang & Ren, Ting & Li, Xin, 2023. "Performance analysis of a light uniform device for the solar receiver or reactor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    9. Tang, Xin-Yuan & Zhang, Kai-Ran & Yang, Wei-Wei & Dou, Pei-Yuan, 2023. "Integrated design of solar concentrator and thermochemical reactor guided by optimal solar radiation distribution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PB).

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