Evaluation of the design and optical errors for a parabolic trough collector field in an Algerian desert region: Gassi-Touil as a study area

Abstract

Solar energy of its renewable nature is considered the best alternative for offering effective solutions to the energy and environmental challenges faced by the world. This study is carried out to optically model a parabolic trough collector (PTC) field and study the influence of Gassi-Touil climate on its optical and thermal efficiency. The study allowed the completion of the MATLAB code that allows the calculation of all design and optical parameters of the studied solar collector, taking into account the instantaneous change of incidence angle that has a direct impact on the change in design and optical errors. For the PTC efficiencies, its average optical performance found, is 75.15% and its average thermal efficiency is 70%. Besides, the average rate of total heat loss coefficient is 7.95 W/m2K, the average rate of local concentration ratio on the receiver tube surface is 40.65 and the average rate of heat flow intensity is 36823 W/m2. The obtained results are very encouraging to exploit this effective solar technology, which will help in preserving fossil resources and progress towards sustainable development in Algeria.

Keywords

• Solar thermal energy
• Parabolic trough solar collector
• Design errors
• Optical errors
• Numerical simulation