Thermal analysis in parabolic trough collector

Today, the need for energy is increasing as the population increases. Renewable energy sources are used as an alternative to fossil resources to meet the increasing energy need. Solar energy is the most used energy source among renewable energy sources. In order to get more benefits from solar energy applications and to reach high temperatures, concentrator systems are used. Thermal solar energy systems, whose use has increased in recent years, are among the renewable energy sources that can provide both heat and electricity generation with solar energy. Parabolic trough systems are the most used collector type among thermal solar energy systems. Parabolic trough collectors are used in areas such as solar steam production, hot water generation, air conditioning-cooling applications, heating of spaces, industrial processes and electricity generation. Parabolic trough type collectors are concentrator systems in the middle (100–350°C) with a high (>350°C) temperature group that can focus linearly from solar energy applications. Concentrated sun rays fall on the receiver tube, which is at the focus of the collector, and heat the water in the tube. Thanks to this, it works in integration with different systems by converting solar radiation into useful heat. The aim of this study was to conduct a thermal analysis of a double corrugated parabolic collector with a parabolic aperture (W) 80cm, collector length (L) 180cm, collector depth (Lp) 15cm, aperture area 1.44m2 in Istanbul in July. The aim was to find the useful energy per unit opening area to be obtained with the help of the parabolic trough collector with the solar radiation in July in Istanbul in the determined parameters.