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Influences of installation and tracking errors on the optical performance of a solar parabolic trough collector

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  • Zhao, Dongming
  • Xu, Ershu
  • Wang, Zhifeng
  • Yu, Qiang
  • Xu, Li
  • Zhu, Lingzhi

Abstract

The parabolic trough collector is an important component of parabolic trough solar thermal power generation systems. Coordinate transformations and the Monte Carlo Ray Trace (MCRT) method were combined to simulate the circumferential flux distribution on absorber tubes. The simulation model includes the optics cone with non-parallel rays, geometric concentration ratios (GCs), the glass tube transmissivity, the absorber tube absorptance and the collector surface reflectivity. The mode is used to analyze the effects of absorber tube installation errors and reflector tracking errors. The results are compared with reference data to verify the model accuracy. Influences of installation and tracking errors on the flux distribution are analyzed for different errors, incident angles and GCs. For a GC of 20 and 90° rim angle, X direction installation errors are −0.2%∼0.2%, Y direction installation errors are −1.0%–0.5%, and the tracking error should be less than 4 mrad. As the incident angle increases, the errors become larger, but the errors become smaller as concentration ratios are increased. The results provide foundations for heat transfer analysis of the absorber tube, for parabolic trough plant to ensure the safe intensity, and for economic analysis of the installation process and control system.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Dongming & Xu, Ershu & Wang, Zhifeng & Yu, Qiang & Xu, Li & Zhu, Lingzhi, 2016. "Influences of installation and tracking errors on the optical performance of a solar parabolic trough collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 197-212.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:94:y:2016:i:c:p:197-212
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2016.03.036
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    Cited by:

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    5. Yang, Bin & Liu, Shuaishuai & Zhang, Ruirui & Yu, Xiaohui, 2022. "Influence of reflector installation errors on optical-thermal performance of parabolic trough collectors based on a MCRT - FVM coupled model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 1006-1017.
    6. Liu, Shuaishuai & Yang, Bin & Hou, Yutian & Yu, Xiaohui, 2022. "Effects of geometric configurations on the thermal-mechanical properties of parabolic trough receivers based on coupled optical-thermal-stress model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 929-942.
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    9. Hafez, A.Z. & Yousef, A.M. & Harag, N.M., 2018. "Solar tracking systems: Technologies and trackers drive types – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 754-782.
    10. Manikandan, G.K. & Iniyan, S. & Goic, Ranko, 2019. "Enhancing the optical and thermal efficiency of a parabolic trough collector – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1524-1540.
    11. Hou, Yu-tian & Yu, Xiao-hui & Yang, Bin & Liu, Shuai-shuai & Qi, Yao, 2023. "Optical performance investigation on flat receiver for parabolic trough solar collector based on the MCRT method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 525-536.
    12. Liu, Shuaishuai & Yang, Bin & Yu, Xiaohui, 2023. "Impact of installation error and tracking error on the thermal-mechanical properties of parabolic trough receivers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 197-211.
    13. Xiaolei Li & Zhifeng Wang & Ershu Xu & Linrui Ma & Li Xu & Dongming Zhao, 2019. "Dynamically Coupled Operation of Two-Tank Indirect TES and Steam Generation System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-42, May.
    14. Linrui Ma & Zhifeng Wang & Dongqiang Lei & Li Xu, 2019. "Establishment, Validation, and Application of a Comprehensive Thermal Hydraulic Model for a Parabolic Trough Solar Field," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-24, August.
    15. Zou, Bin & Yao, Yang & Jiang, Yiqiang & Yang, Hongxing, 2018. "A new algorithm for obtaining the critical tube diameter and intercept factor of parabolic trough solar collectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 451-467.
    16. Zhiying Cui & Fengwu Bai & Zhifeng Wang & Fuqiang Wang, 2019. "Influences of Optical Factors on the Performance of the Solar Furnace," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-18, October.
    17. Bellos, Evangelos & Tzivanidis, Christos, 2017. "Parametric analysis and optimization of an Organic Rankine Cycle with nanofluid based solar parabolic trough collectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(PB), pages 1376-1393.
    18. Hai Wang & Yanxin Hu & Jinqing Peng & Mengjie Song & Haoteng Li, 2021. "Effects of Receiver Parameters on Solar Flux Distribution for Triangle Cavity Receiver in the Fixed Linear-Focus Fresnel Lens Solar Concentrator," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-21, May.
    19. Song, Jifeng & Tong, Kai & Luo, Geng & Li, Lei, 2017. "Influence of non-ideal optical factors in actual engineering on the safety and stability of a parabolic trough collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1293-1301.
    20. Ajbar, Wassila & Parrales, A. & Huicochea, A. & Hernández, J.A., 2022. "Different ways to improve parabolic trough solar collectors’ performance over the last four decades and their applications: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).

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