Development and Application of Test System for Ball Joints of Parabolic Trough Solar Collector

Abstract

The ball joint is a key component of a parabolic trough solar collector. To address the problems of operation sticking and heat conduction oil leakage in ball joints, a performance test system was developed. The system can perform accelerated life tests of ball joints in rotational, angular, or rotational-angular motion, and at temperature up to 393 ℃ and pressure up to 4.1 MPa. Using thermal conductivity oil as heat transfer fluid, performance tests of the ball joints were conducted under working conditions of 393 ℃ and 2.3 MPa, as well as under varying temperature and pressure conditions. The torque characteristics and sealing performance of the ball joint over a simulated 12-year lifespan were analyzed. Furthermore, the stability and reliability of the test system were verified through the test process, and the control and measurement accuracy of key technical parameters met the operational requirements. This test system provides technical support for the performance assessment of ball joints.

Keywords

• solar thermal power generation
• parabolic trough solar collector
• ball joint
• test system
• torque characteristic
• seal performance
• accelerated life
• performance testing