Table of Contents
- 1 What happens in a parabolic trough?
- 2 What are the features of a parabolic trough solar collector?
- 3 What is a parabolic trough made of?
- 4 What are the different types of parabolic solar system?
- 5 How do you find the focal point of a parabolic trough?
- 6 Which is most widely used working fluid in parabolic trough solar power plant?
What happens in a parabolic trough?
Parabolic trough is a set of concave mirrors that concentrate solar rays on the receiver tube that is located in the focus. These troughs can track the Sun around one axis, typically oriented north–south to ensure the highest possible efficiency.
What are the features of a parabolic trough solar collector?
Parabolic trough collectors are formed by a cylindrical surface of mirrors with a parabolic shape that concentrates solar radiation on a receiver tube located at the focal point of the parabola. A fluid, normally synthetic oil, circulates inside the receiver tubes and is heaten up by the sun (around 400 ºC).
Where are parabolic troughs used?
The hot fluid can be piped to a heat engine, which uses the heat energy to drive machinery, or to generate electricity. This solar energy collector is the most common and best known type of parabolic trough.
What is a parabolic trough made of?
The parabolic trough reflector when used as a solar thermal energy collector is constructed as a long parabolic reflecting mirror which is usually painted a reflective silver, or made from polished aluminium, or uses mirrors which extends linearly into the trough shape.
What are the different types of parabolic solar system?
There are two major types of linear concentrator systems: parabolic trough systems, where receiver tubes are positioned along the focal line of each parabolic mirror, and linear Fresnel reflector systems, where one receiver tube is positioned above several mirrors to allow the mirrors greater mobility in tracking the …
Which material is most preferred for reflector of a parabolic trough collector?
Back-silvered thick-glass reflectors are the most widely used type of reflector for parabolic-trough concentrators. This type of reflector is similar to conventional mirrors apart from the curvature and the type of glass used.
How do you find the focal point of a parabolic trough?
To find the focal point of a parabola, follow these steps: Step 1: Measure the longest diameter (width) of the parabola at its rim. Step 2: Divide the diameter by two to determine the radius (x) and square the result (x ). Step 3: Measure the depth of the parabola (a) at its vertex and multiply it by 4 (4a).
Which is most widely used working fluid in parabolic trough solar power plant?
thermal oil
The most common technology used for the solar field is parabolic trough collectors with thermal oil as heat transfer fluid. Due to the environmental issues and temperature limitations of the thermal oil, alternative fluids such as water, molten salts or pressurized gas have been studied and tested.
How do you make a parabolic reflector?
The easiest way is to cut and fold a flat sheet into a parabolic dish. Then glue a layer of aluminum foil on its inner surface, for reflectivity. The flat sheet can be as cheap as cardboard. However water resistant material, such as plastic or metal, will last longer.