Novel Parabolic Troughs without Solar Tracking System, Proc. Renewable Energy 2010
Pacifico Yokohama, Japan, (2010)
Wattana Ratismith
Energy Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330 Thailand
Abstract
In the operation of the parabolic trough, the concentrating systems require sun tracking to maintain sunlight focus at the collector. In addition, the solar collector is unable to provide power in diffused light conditions, since the output from concentrating systems drops drastically in cloudy conditions as diffused light cannot be concentrated passively. Therefore it faces a serious problem in utilizing such a solar collector to collect solar energy, especially in the rainy season. The goal of this research is to design a new solar collector, which does not contain a solar tracking system and has an ability to collect diffused sunlight. The proposed system consists of three deep parabolic troughs, with low focus points facing the sun at different angles and the elongated cross section tubes at the axis of the trough. The salient feature of this design is that the system can collect the sunlight energy at every angle with no moving part, and at the same time can receive the diffused light. This collector yields high temperatures, and is therefore suitable for heating water, drying, cooling unit or electricity generation.