Design principles of parabolic solar collectors

A performance model has been programmed for solar thermal collector based on a linear, tracking parabolic trough reflector focused on a selective surface absorber tube (receiver) enclosed in an evacuated transparent glass tube: a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector PTSC. This steady state, single dimensional model comprises the fundamental radiative and convective heat transfer and energy balance relations programmed in the Visual Basic 6.0. It considers the effects of ambiance conditions, design conditions, material properties, fluid properties and operating conditions on the performance of the PTSC. The numerical model has been carefully validated with experimental data obtained by Sandia National Laboratories.Taking into consideration the operation and ambiance condition, the geometric design of the PTSC is done. Depending on the simulation program and the meteorological year data of İzmir city, the hourly, daily, monthly and annually output powers of the PTSC which designed in this study are determined.