DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOCAL POINT POWER TROUGH (FPPT) An Advanced Parabolic Trough Concentrator for Electricity Generation

摘要

The goal of this project is to design a new generation of large-aperture parabolic trough concentrators for the electric power-generating market. By employing a structurally efficient space-frame design and by rotating directly around the focal point of the trough parabola to track the sun, this new concentrator overcomes the cost and operating limitations of current large-aperture trough designs that are based on 1980's technology. The advanced trough will require nearly 50% less material per square meter than a Solel LS-2, while reducing the complexity of rotational assemblies so as to reduce pumping power, system installation and maintenance costs. The advanced concentrator is designed to allow use of a variety of reflector materials, including thin glass, polished metal and reflective film reflectors to produce temperatures up to 400 C at a deployment goal of