Comparison of Linear and Point Focus Collectors in Solar Power Plants

Evaluation of solar-chimney power plants with multiple-angle collectors

Solar chimney power plants are plants based on solar thermal power including three parts of collector, chimney and turbine, which is able to produce electrical energy. One of the effective parameters in increasing the power production is the collector angles versus horizon. In the present study, a numerical analysis of a solar chimney power plant for different angles of the collector (divergent...

Robust control of solar plants with distributed collectors

This paper presents a robust control scheme for a distributed solar collector (DSC) field. As DSC are systems subjected to strong disturbances (mainly in solar radiation and inlet oil temperature), a series feedforward is used as a part of the plant, so that the system to be controlled has one input (fluid flow) and one output (outlet temperature) as the disturbances are partially compensated b...

Evaluation of Surface Slope Irregularity in Linear Parabolic Solar Collectors

The paper describes amethodology, very simple in its application, for measuring surface irregularities of linear parabolic collectors. This technique was principally developed to be applied in cases where it is difficult to use cumbersome instruments and to facilitate logistic management. The instruments to be employed are a digital camera and a grating. If the reflector surface is defective, t...

Experimental investigation on performance comparison of nanofluid-based direct absorption and flat plate solar collectors

In the present work, a prototype of a new type of solar collectors, which called Direct Absorption Solar Collector, was built and its thermal performance is experimentally compared with conventional flat plate solar collector under transient and steady state conditions. Different volume fractions of multi wall carbon nanotubes in water and ethylene glycol mixture (70%:30% in volume) were used a...

Solar Heat in Industrial Processes Integration of Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors in Dairy Plants and Pharmaceutical Plants