Precision Design of Solar Collector Systems: Error Budgeting and Sensitivity Analysis

摘要

The implementation of large-scale industrial solar plants larger than 50MW has been suggested as a potential tool for helping to meet world energy needs [1], Although solar collector concepts differ in how they concentrate solar energy, each system is faced with the challenge of managing many of the same types of errors found in precision machine tools and instruments. In order to understand how a solar field of mirrors will perform throughout its life, it is important to understand the accuracy and repeatability of individual elements, and the way that the assembly affects overall system efficiency. Combined with ray tracing techniques, this work uses error budgeting and sensitivity analysis to help design and predict the efficiency of solar collecting devices. By approaching concentrated solar power system design from the standpoint of precision versus performance, design details that lower overall production and installation costs can be identified. As an example, a design case study for a monolithic parabolic trough collector is presented that shows potential cost savings and greatly reduced environmental impact on the installation site.