Development of Sheet-Metal Parabolic-Trough Reflector Panels

摘要

Efforts to develop accurate, durable, and mass producible sheet metal parabolic trough solar collectors and the associated support for the collectors are described. The design considered is similar to an automobile hood, a two-piece sheet metal structure consisting of a formed steel frame or stiffening panel and a smooth contoured skin. The two pieces may be bonded or welded to form a rigid structure, and a reflective surface applied such as a film, glass mirror, or any of the presently utilized materials. The work encompassed material selection, adhesive selection and testing, tool design and fabrication, prototype panel production, and design and development of torque tube assemblies on which the trough is inclined. Appended are results of adhesive bonding studies. It is found that high volume technology can be used to produce accurate and structurally sound reflector panels, and one configuration has been selected for fabrication in suitable quantities for performance testing. (ERA citation 07:061150)