Influence of non-ideal optical factors in actual engineering on the safety and stability of a parabolic trough collector. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Song, Jifeng; Tong, Kai; Luo, Geng; Li, Lei
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 113(2017)
• Page Start: 1293
• Page End: 1301
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Parabolic trough -- Optical error -- Thermal performance; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.06.106
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: The influence of non-ideal optical factors in actual engineering on the thermal performance of the parabolic trough system was investigated. The flux distribution on the outer wall of the absorber tube distorted by non-ideal factors was calculated using the ray-tracing method and was set as the boundary condition of the model of the tubular receiver based on the finite volume method. The numerical results were compared with experimental data of the LS2 parabolic trough collector test platform and a good agreement was observed, proving that the model and method of this work is reliable. More details of the results show that the temperature field and the characteristics of the fluid dynamics under non-ideal flux distribution conditions are different from those under ideal conditions. It was revealed that the maximum circumferential temperature difference on the outer surface of the absorber under the worst flux distribution was 2 times that under ideal flux distribution, which could cause serious thermal strain and affect the photo-thermal conversion process. 0.7° is recommended as the limit value of tracking errors to ensure the thermal efficiency of the receiver at a high level. Highlights: The circumstantial flux distribution around receivers distorted by errors in actual engineering is studied. The deteriorated temperature field by corresponding errors on the tube is analyzed. The tolerance of receivers to the non-ideal factors is given to meet the need of engineering.