Design and Modification of Parabolic Trough Solar Collector for Performance Effectiveness

Globally, parabolic trough solar collector installation is in high demand among the various concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies due to the high energy demand. The design involves the bending of a flexible reflective material that concentrates the solar irradiation that lands on the collector surface to the focal line; this is where the absorber pipe is positioned. This paper presents a modified parabolic trough solar collector with the aim of controlling the output temperature and protecting the glass cover from damage during rainfall with hailstones. The design focused on the incorporation of a polymeric cover. The design takes into consideration the position of the focal line of the collector, therefore, the cover slider was placed at a point above the absorber pipe. A prototype of the resulting product will be installed on the roof top of Building 2 of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Staatsartillerie Road, 0183, Pretoria West Campus, Pretoria, South Africa.