Design, Cost, and Performance Comparisons of Several Solar-Thermal Systems for Process Heat. Volume II. Concentrators

摘要

The major mechanical design and cost differences between concentrator subsystems are identified. Parabolic dishes and troughs are designed to the same specifications as heliostats, using the same glass mirror/steel structure design concept and their costs are estimated on a consistent, comparable basis, using the heliostat cost data base. The results show inherent cost differences arising from differences in geometry, the cost of providing curvature and wind loadings. The estimated cost increases, relative to heliostats, are 15% to 50% for dishes and 0% to 30% for troughs, considering the combined effect of several analysis uncertainties. (ERA citation 06:020088)