PHYS 471 Solar Energy 2004-1

Concentrating Collectors
Instructor : Prof.Dr Ahmet Ecevit

Prepared by: Serkan Kapucu

Table of Contents
1.Introduction 2.Concentrating collectors 3.Types of concentrating collectors 4.Working principles of concentrating collectors 5. Technology Comparison 6. Calculations 7. Economic and Environmental Considerations 8. Conclusions

1. Introduction
For applications such as air conditioning, central power generation, and numerous industrial heat requirements, flat plate collectors generally cannot provide carrier fluids at temperatures sufficiently elevated to be effective. They may be used as first-stage heat input devices; the temperature of the carrier fluid is then boosted by other conventional heating means. Alternatively, more complex and expensive concentrating collectors can be used. These are devices that optically reflect and focus incident solar energy onto a small receiving area.

2. Concentrating collectors
Concentrating, or focusing, collectors intercept direct radiation over a large area and focus it onto a small absorber area. These collectors can provide high temperatures more efficiently than flat-plate collectors. However, diffused sky radiation cannot be focused onto the absorber. Most concentrating collectors require mechanical equipment that constantly orients the collectors toward the sun and keeps the absorber at the point of focus.

3. Types of concentrating collectors

There are four basic types of concentrating collectors:

Parabolic trough system Parabolic dish Power tower Stationary concentrating collectors

3.1. Parabolic trough system

Parabolic troughs are devices that are shaped like the letter u. The troughs concentrate sunlight onto a receiver tube that is positioned along the focal line of the trough. Sometimes a transparent glass tube envelops the receiver tube to reduce heat loss [3].
Their shapes are like letter u as shown figure 3.1.1 below.
The parabolic trough sytem is shown in the figure 3.1.2 below.

Figure 3.1.1 Crossection of parabolic trough [4].

Figure 3.1.2 Parabolic trough system [3].

Parabolic troughs often use single-axis or dual-axis tracking.

The below figure 3.1.3 shows one axis tracking parabolic trough with axis oriented E-W. The below figure 3.1.4 shows two axis tracking concentrator.

Figure 3.1.3 One Axis Tracking Parabolic Trough with Axis Oriented E-W [8].

Figure 3.1.4 Two Axis Tracking Concentrator [8].

3.2. Parabolic dish systems

A parabolic dish collector is similar in appearance to a large satellite dish, but has mirror-like reflectors and an absorber at the focal point. It uses a dual axis sun tracker [3].
The below figure 3.2.1 shows crossection of parabolic dish. The Parabolic dish collector is shown in the below figure 3.2.2.

Figure 3.2.1 Crossection of parabolic dish [4].

Figure 3.2.2 Parabolic dish collector with a mirrorlike reflectors and an absorber at the focal point [Courtesy of SunLabs - Department of Energy] [3].

3.3. Power tower system

A heliostat uses a field of dual axis sun trackers that direct solar energy to a large absorber located on a tower. To date the only application for the heliostat collector is power generation in a system called the power tower [3].
The Power tower system is shown in the figure 3.3.1 below. Heliostats are shown in the figure 3.3.2 below.

Figure 3.3.1 Power tower system [4].

Figure 3.3.2 Heliostats [4].

3.4. Stationary concentrating solar collectors

Stationary concentrating collectors use compound parabolic reflectors and flat reflectors for directing solar energy to an accompanying absorber or aperture through a wide acceptance angle. The wide acceptance angle for these reflectors eliminates the need for a sun tracker.

4. Working principles of concentrating collectors

Unlike solar (photovoltaic) cells, which use light to produce electricity, concentrating solar power systems generate electricity with heat.

Concentrating solar collectors use mirrors and lenses to concentrate and focus sunlight onto a thermal receiver, similar to a boiler tube.
The receiver absorbs and converts sunlight into heat. The heat is then transported to a steam generator or engine where it is converted into electricity.

A concentrating solar power system that produces 350 MW of electricity.

7. Economic and Environmental Considerations

The most important factor driving the solar energy system design process is whether the energy it produces is economical. Although there are factors other than economics that enter into a decision of when to use solar energy; i.e. no pollution, no greenhouse gas generation, security of the energy resource etc., This or some similar economic parameter, gives the expected cost of the energy produced by the solar energy system.

8. Conclusions
Concentrating solar power technology for electricity generation is ready for the market. Various types of single and dual-purpose plants have been analysed and tested in the field. Parabolic and Fresnel troughs, central receivers and parabolic dishes will be installed for solar/fossil hybrid and solar-only power plant operation. In parallel, decentralised process heat for industrial applications will be provided by low-cost concentrated collectors.