Experimental Investigation of Solar Thermal Collector on the Open Parabolic Trough

摘要

Experimental study of solar heat transfer in a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector (PTSC) recording to the Iraq weather conditions in Ad Diwaniyah city (32°N, 45°E). Different parameters used included varying tire flow rate, focal length to test their effects on the performance of the collector. Three rates of water flow were used (2, 2.5 and 3 L/min). Results showed that; the performance of the collector increases when the mass flow rate increases. Furthermore, when the flow rate increased from 2-3 L/min, the useful heat gain and efficiency of the collector increased by 29 and 28%, respectively. It also, can be seen the performance of the collector decreases as tire focal length increase. Two different methods have been used to increase the energy obtained from tire solar collector. The first method by using of secondary reflectors and tire second method by using of fins. Two configurations of secondary reflectors were used named as flat reflector and curved reflector. By using tire first method, tire efficiency of tire collector increasing from 34.7-40.8% while it increasing from 35.5-38.44% when tire second method used.