Analysis of geometry and optical properties of solar parabolic trough collectors uses a number of specific techniques that have demonstrated to be useful tools in prototype evaluation. These are based on photogrammetry, flux mapping, ray tracing, and advanced thermal testing. They can be used to assure the collector quality during construction and for acceptance tests of the solar field. The methods have been applied on EuroTrough collectors, cross checked, and compared. This paper summarizes results in collector shape measurement, flux measurement, ray tracing, and thermal performance analysis for parabolic troughs. It is shown that the measurement methods and the parameter analysis give consistent results. The interpretation of the results and their annual evaluation give hints on identified relevant improvement potentials for the following generation of solar power plant collectors.
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Parabolic Trough Optical Performance Analysis Techniques
Klaus Pottler,
Klaus Pottler
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
, Plataforma Solar de Almería, Spain
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Steffen Ulmer,
Steffen Ulmer
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
, Plataforma Solar de Almería, Spain
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Klaus-J. Riffelmann,
Klaus-J. Riffelmann
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
, Solar Research, Cologne, Germany
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Andreas Neumann,
Andreas Neumann
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
, Solar Research, Cologne, Germany
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Björn Schiricke
Björn Schiricke
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
, Solar Research, Cologne, Germany
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Eckhard Lüpfert
Klaus Pottler
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
, Plataforma Solar de Almería, Spain
Steffen Ulmer
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
, Plataforma Solar de Almería, Spain
Klaus-J. Riffelmann
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
, Solar Research, Cologne, Germany
Andreas Neumann
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
, Solar Research, Cologne, Germany
Björn Schiricke
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
, Solar Research, Cologne, GermanyJ. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2007, 129(2): 147-152 (6 pages)
Published Online: June 18, 2006
Article history
Received:
June 7, 2005
Revised:
June 18, 2006
Citation
Lüpfert, E., Pottler, K., Ulmer, S., Riffelmann, K., Neumann, A., and Schiricke, B. (June 18, 2006). "Parabolic Trough Optical Performance Analysis Techniques." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2007; 129(2): 147–152. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2710249
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