Low-Temperature IPH Parabolic Troughs: Design Variations and Cost-Reduction Potential

摘要

Parabolic trough concentrating collectors have improved in performance and reliability since the US Department of Energy's solar thermal program began. The development of components has been tailored to meeting instantaneous collector performance goals at an operating temperature of 315 exp 0 C (600 exp 0 F). Although this strategy has resulted in advanced component designs and excellent collector performance at 315 exp 0 C, it has also necessitated somewhat stringent, expensive component design requirements. Near-term parabolic trough collector systems are too expensive to compete widely with conventional fossil-fuel systems. This report describes how collector costs can be reduced with lower-temperature designs. Industrial process heating energy use at below 150 exp 0 C (300 exp 0 F) is over five times greater than that at from 200 exp 0 to 315 exp 0 C (400 exp 0 F to 600 exp 0 F). Component designs for lower temperatures are considered, including less rigid, lighter-weight concentrators; alternative concentrator constructions; larger receivers; and multiple-row drive systems. (ERA citation 09:011803)