IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i2p356-d1567723.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Performance Analysis of a Parabolic Trough Collector with Photovoltaic—Thermal Generation: Case Study and Parametric Study

Author

Listed:
  • Benjamín Chavarría-Domínguez

    (Department of Electronic Engineering, National Technological Institute of Mexico—National Center for Research and Technological Development, Cuernavaca 62490, Mexico)

  • Susana Estefany De León-Aldaco

    (Department of Electronic Engineering, National Technological Institute of Mexico—National Center for Research and Technological Development, Cuernavaca 62490, Mexico)

  • Mario Ponce-Silva

    (Department of Electronic Engineering, National Technological Institute of Mexico—National Center for Research and Technological Development, Cuernavaca 62490, Mexico)

  • Nicolás Velázquez-Limón

    (Center for the Study of Renewable Energies, Institute of Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali 21280, Mexico)

  • Jesús Armando Aguilar-Jiménez

    (Center for the Study of Renewable Energies, Institute of Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali 21280, Mexico)

  • Fernando Chavarría-Domínguez

    (Faculty of Engineering, Veracruz University, Coatzacoalcos 96538, Mexico)

  • Ernesto Raúl Rodríguez-García

    (Faculty of Engineering, Veracruz University, Coatzacoalcos 96538, Mexico)

  • Heriberto Adamas-Pérez

    (Academic Division of Industrial Mechanics, Emiliano Zapata University of Technology, Emiliano Zapata 62765, Mexico)

  • Ricardo Eliu Lozoya-Ponce

    (Division of Graduate Studies and Research, National Technological Institute of Mexico Campus Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31310, Mexico)

  • Eligio Flores-Rodriguez

    (National Technological Institute of Mexico—Los Reyes Institute of Technology, Los Reyes 60300, Mexico)

Abstract

This study presents a mathematical model of a parabolic trough solar collector with photovoltaic cells integrated into its solar receiver. A case study is presented, utilizing meteorological data obtained from the localities of Cuernavaca and Mexicali in Mexico. The results demonstrate moderately variable electrical and thermal energy production for Cuernavaca (387.93 kWh to 239.38 kWh and 1036.11 kWh to 641.26 kWh, respectively). In contrast, the production of electrical and thermal energy in Mexicali exhibited considerably greater fluctuations (515.16 kWh to 177.69 kWh and 1424.39 kWh to 448.88 kWh, respectively). Furthermore, a parametric study is presented, which analyzes the impact of solar receiver geometry and mass flow on the model’s behavior. The results demonstrate that the pipe length exerts the most significant influence on the electrical and thermal power output (1.21 kW to 2.22 kW and 3.7 kW to 6.9 kW, respectively). Additionally, the diameter has an impact on the thermal power output (5.23 kW to 7.1 kW) and the electrical and thermal efficiency (0.18 to 0.15 and 0.54 to 0.74, respectively). Modifying the mass flow facilitates the enhancement of electrical power and efficiency (1.54 kW to 1.72 kW and 0.16 to 0.18, respectively) while concurrently preventing a significant reduction in thermal power and efficiency (5.4 kW to 5.3 kW and 0.56 to 0.55, respectively). A script with the developed model is provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamín Chavarría-Domínguez & Susana Estefany De León-Aldaco & Mario Ponce-Silva & Nicolás Velázquez-Limón & Jesús Armando Aguilar-Jiménez & Fernando Chavarría-Domínguez & Ernesto Raúl Rodríguez-Garc, 2025. "Performance Analysis of a Parabolic Trough Collector with Photovoltaic—Thermal Generation: Case Study and Parametric Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:2:p:356-:d:1567723
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/356/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/2/356/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Afzali Gorouh, Hossein & Salmanzadeh, Mazyar & Nasseriyan, Pouriya & Hayati, Abolfazl & Cabral, Diogo & Gomes, João & Karlsson, Björn, 2022. "Thermal modelling and experimental evaluation of a novel concentrating photovoltaic thermal collector (CPVT) with parabolic concentrator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 535-553.
    2. Juan Pablo Santana & Carlos I. Rivera-Solorio & Jia Wei Chew & Yong Zen Tan & Miguel Gijón-Rivera & Iván Acosta-Pazmiño, 2023. "Performance Assessment of Coupled Concentrated Photovoltaic-Thermal and Vacuum Membrane Distillation (CPVT-VMD) System for Water Desalination," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, February.
    3. Karathanassis, I.K. & Papanicolaou, E. & Belessiotis, V. & Bergeles, G.C., 2019. "Dynamic simulation and exergetic optimization of a Concentrating Photovoltaic/ Thermal (CPVT) system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 1035-1047.
    4. Benjamín Chavarría-Domínguez & Susana Estefany De León-Aldaco & Nicolás Velázquez-Limón & Mario Ponce-Silva & Jesús Armando Aguilar-Jiménez & Fernando Chavarría-Domínguez, 2024. "A Review of the Modeling of Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors Coupled to Solar Receivers with Photovoltaic/Thermal Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-32, March.
    5. Acosta-Pazmiño, Iván P. & Rivera-Solorio, C.I. & Gijón-Rivera, M., 2022. "Hybridization of a parabolic trough-based thermal plant for industrial heat and power generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 961-973.
    6. Kazemian, Arash & Salari, Ali & Hakkaki-Fard, Ali & Ma, Tao, 2019. "Numerical investigation and parametric analysis of a photovoltaic thermal system integrated with phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 734-746.
    7. Mohsenzadeh, Milad & Shafii, M.B. & Jafari mosleh, H., 2017. "A novel concentrating photovoltaic/thermal solar system combined with thermoelectric module in an integrated design," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 822-834.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Karolina Papis-Frączek & Krzysztof Sornek, 2022. "A Review on Heat Extraction Devices for CPVT Systems with Active Liquid Cooling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-49, August.
    2. Benjamín Chavarría-Domínguez & Susana Estefany De León-Aldaco & Nicolás Velázquez-Limón & Mario Ponce-Silva & Jesús Armando Aguilar-Jiménez & Fernando Chavarría-Domínguez, 2024. "A Review of the Modeling of Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors Coupled to Solar Receivers with Photovoltaic/Thermal Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-32, March.
    3. Salari, Ali & Shakibi, Hamid & Soltani, Shohreh & Kazemian, Arash & Ma, Tao, 2024. "Optimization assessment and performance analysis of an ingenious hybrid parabolic trough collector: A machine learning approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 353(PA).
    4. Salari, Ali & Parcheforosh, Ali & Hakkaki-Fard, Ali & Amadeh, Ali, 2020. "A numerical study on a photovoltaic thermal system integrated with a thermoelectric generator module," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 1261-1271.
    5. Shakibi, Hamid & Shokri, Afshar & Sobhani, Behnam & Yari, Mortaza, 2023. "Numerical analysis and optimization of a novel photovoltaic thermal solar unit improved by Nano-PCM as an energy storage media and finned collector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    6. Santos, Daniel & Azgın, Ahmet & Castro, Jesus & Kizildag, Deniz & Rigola, Joaquim & Tunçel, Bilge & Turan, Raşit & Preßmair, Rupert & Felsberger, Richard & Buchroithner, Armin, 2023. "Thermal and fluid dynamic optimization of a CPV-T receiver for solar co-generation applications: Numerical modelling and experimental validation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 87-99.
    7. Gülşah Karaca Dolgun & Onur Vahip Güler & Aleksandar G. Georgiev & Ali Keçebaş, 2023. "Experimental Investigation of a Concentrating Bifacial Photovoltaic/Thermal Heat Pump System with a Triangular Trough," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-20, January.
    8. Zhang, Chenyu & Wang, Ning & Xu, Hongtao & Fang, Yuan & Yang, Qiguo & Talkhoncheh, Fariborz Karimi, 2023. "Thermal management optimization of the photovoltaic cell by the phase change material combined with metal fins," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    9. Sripadmanabhan Indira, Sridhar & Aravind Vaithilingam, Chockalingam & Narasingamurthi, Kulasekharan & Sivasubramanian, Ramsundar & Chong, Kok-Keong & Saidur, R., 2022. "Mathematical modelling, performance evaluation and exergy analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal-solar thermoelectric system integrated with compound parabolic concentrator and parabolic trough con," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    10. Mortadi, M. & El Fadar, A. & Achkari Begdouri, O., 2024. "4E analysis of photovoltaic thermal collector-based tri-generation system with adsorption cooling: Annual simulation under Moroccan climate conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    11. Khani, M.S. & Baneshi, M. & Eslami, M., 2019. "Bi-objective optimization of photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) solar collectors according to various weather conditions using genetic algorithm: A numerical modeling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    12. Kazemian, Arash & Khatibi, Meysam & Ma, Tao & Peng, Jinqing & Hongxing, Yang, 2023. "A thermal performance-enhancing strategy of photovoltaic thermal systems by applying surface area partially covered by solar cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    13. Yu, Qinghua & Chen, Xi & Yang, Hongxing, 2021. "Research progress on utilization of phase change materials in photovoltaic/thermal systems: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    14. Taher Maatallah & Ahlem Houcine & Farooq Saeed & Sikandar Khan & Sajid Ali, 2024. "Simulated Performance Analysis of a Hybrid Water-Cooled Photovoltaic/Parabolic Dish Concentrator Coupled with Conical Cavity Receiver," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-25, January.
    15. Muhammad Nazri Rejab & Omar Mohd Faizan Marwah & Muhammad Akmal Johar & Mohamed Najib Ribuan, 2022. "Dual-Level Voltage Bipolar Thermal Energy Harvesting System from Solar Radiation in Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, September.
    16. Sripadmanabhan Indira, Sridhar & Aravind Vaithilingam, Chockalingam & Sivasubramanian, Ramsundar & Chong, Kok-Keong & Narasingamurthi, Kulasekharan & Saidur, R., 2022. "Prototype of a novel hybrid concentrator photovoltaic/thermal and solar thermoelectric generator system for outdoor study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 224-239.
    17. Ghasemian, Mehran & Sheikholeslami, M. & Dehghan, Maziar, 2023. "Performance improvement of photovoltaic/thermal systems by using twisted tapes in the coolant tubes with different cross-section patterns," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    18. Ma, Tao & Li, Meng & Kazemian, Arash, 2020. "Photovoltaic thermal module and solar thermal collector connected in series to produce electricity and high-grade heat simultaneously," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    19. Zhang, Chenyu & Wang, Ning & Yang, Qiguo & Xu, Hongtao & Qu, Zhiguo & Fang, Yuan, 2022. "Energy and exergy analysis of a switchable solar photovoltaic/thermal-phase change material system with thermal regulation strategies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1392-1405.
    20. Ju, Xing & Abd El-Samie, Mostafa M. & Xu, Chao & Yu, Hangyu & Pan, Xinyu & Yang, Yongping, 2020. "A fully coupled numerical simulation of a hybrid concentrated photovoltaic/thermal system that employs a therminol VP-1 based nanofluid as a spectral beam filter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:2:p:356-:d:1567723. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.