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Experimental Investigation of a Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power ‎Systems

Year 2025, Early View, 1 - 1

Ismael Ehtiwesh

https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.1311796

Abstract

Large-scale systems have a lower levelized cost of electricity than small-scale concentrated solar power systems. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to evaluate the potential of using standalone small-‎scale ‎concentrated ‎solar power collectors in order to generate process ‎heat ‎at ‎a ‎moderate ‎temperature, which directly utilizes thermal energy without the need to generate electricity. ‎A ‎parabolic trough ‎collector (3.6m2) ‎was ‎designed ‎and ‎manufactured, including a dual-axis solar tracking system with and without an insulating function. An ‎insulating ‎cavity ‎was incorporated to ‎minimize the heat ‎losses collected by the absorbed ‎tube. ‎The experiments ‎were ‎carried out during a time of high winds and unfavorable weather ‎in ‎Sabratha City. The findings of the experiments demonstrated that the produced temperature and the collected heat energy progressively increase until they reach their maximum value, and then gradually decrease. The maximum water ‎temperature ‎was 96ºC at ‎a ‎flow rate ‎of ‎‎0.5L/min, and ‎the highest amount of ‎heat energy was 550W/m². ‎Wind speed showed an important impact on the produced temperature; therefore, various comparative experiments were carried out in the same climate condition; ‎the experiment with the insulating function ‎presented the least heat loss, and it takes a higher edge of 11% in terms of efficiency. ‎In addition, the water temperature rose to 120°C where steam was generated at a zero flow rate, while the oil ‎reached 194ºC. In addition, a mathematical model was also implemented to theoretically study energy balance; with little expected discrepancy, its predictions and the experimental results agreed. In conclusion, the results presented reasonable markers of interest despite the poor environmental conditions during the experiments.‎

Keywords

Concentrated solar power Small-scale power generation Parabolic trough Solar tracking

References

  • [1] Montes, M., Abánades, A., Martínez-Val, J., and Valdés, M., “Solar Multiple Optimization for a Solar-Only Thermal Power Plant, Using Oil as Heat Transfer Fluid in the Parabolic Trough Collectors”, Solar Energy, 83(12): 2165–2176, (2009).
  • [2] Odeh, S. D., and Abu-Mulaweh, H. I., “Design and Development of an Educational Solar Tracking Parabolic Trough Collector System”, Global Journal of Engineering Education, 15(1): 21–27, (2013).
  • [3] Mousazadeh, H., Keyhani, A., Javadi, A., Mobli, H., Abrinia, K., and Sharifi, A.,“A Review of Principle and Sun-Tracking Methods for Maximizing Solar Systems Output”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 13(8): 1800–1818, (2009).
  • [4] Said, Z., Ghodbane, M., Tiwari, A. K., Ali, H. M., Boumeddane, B., and Ali, Z. M., “4E (Energy, Exergy, Economic, and Environment) Examination of a Small LFR Solar Water Heater: An Experimental and Numerical Study”, Elsevier logo Journals & Books Go to journal home page - Case Studies in Thermal Engineering Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 27(October), 101277, (2021).
  • [5] Göttsche, J., Hoffschmidt, B., Schmitz, S., Sauerborn, M., Buck, R., Teufel, E., Badstübner, K., Ifland, D., and Rebholz, C., “Solar Concentrating Systems Using Small Mirror Arrays”, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, ASME, 132(1): 0110031–0110034, (2010).
  • [6] Ehtiwesh, I. A. S., “Experimental Evaluation for Enhancement of Small-Scale Concentrated Solar Power ‎ Systems – a Case Study ‎ for Solar Cooking”, Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, 45(4): 11681–11696, (2023).
  • [7] Saldivar-Aguilera, T. Q., Diaz-Ponce, A., Valentin-Coronado, L. M., Pena-Cruz, M. I., and Acevedo, R. G. A., “Dual Feedback Closed-Loop Control for One-Axis Solar Trackers of Parabolic Trough Collector Systems”, 2021 23rd IEEE Int. Autumn Meeting on Power, Electronics and Computing, ROPEC, (2021).
  • [8] Loni, R., Ghobadian, B., Kasaeian, A. B., Akhlaghi, M. M., Bellos, E., and Najafi, G., “Sensitivity Analysis of Parabolic Trough Concentrator Using Rectangular Cavity Receiver”, Applied Thermal Engineering, 169(April 2019), (2020).
  • [9] Rafiei, A., Loni, R., Ahmadi, M. H., Najafi, G., Bellos, E., Rajaee, F., and Asli-Ardeh, E. A., “Sensitivity Analysis of a Parabolic Trough Concentrator with Linear V‐shape”, eEnergy Science & Engineering, 8: 3544–3560, (2020).
  • [10] Liang, H., Zhu, C., Fan, M., You, S., Zhang, H., and Xia, J., “Study on the Thermal Performance of a Novel Cavity Receiver for Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors”, Applied Energy, 222(April), 790–798, (2018).
  • [11] Alghol, A., and Karim, M., “Design and Fabrication of Parabolic Trough Collector”, Sabratha University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bs.c project, (2016).
  • [12] Ahmed, A., and Moaad, A., “Optimization of Parabolic Trough Collector”, Sabratha University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bs.c project, (2021).
  • [13] Ehtiwesh, I. A. S., Neto Da Silva, F., and Sousa, A. C. M., “Deployment of Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power Plants in North Africa – a Case Study for Libya”, International Journal of Green Energy, (2018).
  • [14] Ehtiwesh, I. A. S., Coelho, M. C., and Sousa, A. C. M., “Exergetic and Environmental Life Cycle Assessment Analysis of Concentrated Solar Power Plants”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 56: 145–155, (2016).
  • [15] Kalogirou, S. A., “Solar Energy Collectors”, Solar Energy Engineering Processes and Systems, Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier, 125–220, (2014).
  • [16] Ehtiwesh, I., Neto da Silva, F., and Sousa, A., “Performance and Economic Analysis of Concentrated Solar Power Plants in Libya”, 2nd International Conference on Energy and Environment: Bringing Together Engineering and Economics, ICEE, 18-19 June, Guimarães, Portugal, 459–66, (2015).
  • [17] Farzanehnia, A., Khatibi, M., Sardarabadi, M., and Passandideh-Fard, M., “Experimental Investigation of Multiwall Carbon Nanotube/Paraffin Based Heat Sink for Electronic Device Thermal Management”, Energy Conversion and Management, 179: 314–325, (2019).
  • [18] Ghodbane, M., Boumeddane, B., Hussain, F., Zhar, R., Lahrech, K., Bhatti, J., Zhang, B., Yassin, H., De Silva, L. C., and Barbón, A., “Evaluation of the Design and Optical Errors for a Parabolic Trough Collector Field in an Algerian Desert Region: Gassi-Touil as a Study Area”, Energy Reports, 8(November), 15326–15337, (2022).
  • [19] Faheem, M., Jizhan, L., Akram, M. W., Khan, M. U., Yongphet, P., Tayyab, M., and Awais, M., “Design Optimization, Fabrication, and Performance Evaluation of Solar Parabolic Trough Collector for Domestic Applications”, Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization and Environmental Effects, 1–20, (2020).
  • [20] Özcan, A., Devecioğlu, A. G., and Oruç, V., “Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector for Water Heating Application”, Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization and Environmental Effects, 44(2): 4184–4203, (2022).
  • [21] El Moussaoui, N., Talbi, S., Atmane, I., Kassmi, K., Schwarzer, K., Chayeb, H., and Bachiri, N., “Feasibility of a New Design of a Parabolic Trough Solar Thermal Cooker (PSTC)”, Solar Energy, 201(February), 866–871, (2022).
  • [22] Harmim, A., Merzouk, M., Boukar, M., and Amar, M., “Performance Study of a Box-Type Solar Cooker Employing an Asymmetric Compound Parabolic Concentrator”, Energy, 47(1): 471–480, (2012).
  • [23] Forristall, R., Heat Transfer Analysis and Modeling of a Parabolic Trough Solar Receiver Implemented in Engineering Equation Solver, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Technical Report NREL/TP-550-34169, (2023).
  • [24] Incropera, F., Bergman, T., Lavine, A., and Dewitt, D., Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, John Wiley & Sons, (2011).
  • [25] Burkholder, F., and Kutscher, C., Heat Loss Testing of Schott’s 2008 PTR70 Parabolic Trough Receiver, Technical Report: NREL/TP-550-45633, (2009).
  • [26] Ehtiwesh, I. A. S., and Sousa, A. C. M., “Numerical Model for the Thermal Behavior of Thermocline Storage Tanks”, Heat Mass Transfer, 54(3): 831–839, (2018).
  • [27] Padilla, R., “Simplified Methodology for Designing Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plants”, PhD Thesis, University of South Florida, (2011).
  • [28] Dudley, E., Kolb, J., Mahoney, R., Mancini, T., Matthews, C., Sloan, M., and Kearney, D., “Test Results: SEGS LS-2 Solar Collector, Report: SAND94-1884”, (1994).

Year 2025, Early View, 1 - 1

Ismael Ehtiwesh

https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.1311796

Abstract

References

  • [1] Montes, M., Abánades, A., Martínez-Val, J., and Valdés, M., “Solar Multiple Optimization for a Solar-Only Thermal Power Plant, Using Oil as Heat Transfer Fluid in the Parabolic Trough Collectors”, Solar Energy, 83(12): 2165–2176, (2009).
  • [2] Odeh, S. D., and Abu-Mulaweh, H. I., “Design and Development of an Educational Solar Tracking Parabolic Trough Collector System”, Global Journal of Engineering Education, 15(1): 21–27, (2013).
  • [3] Mousazadeh, H., Keyhani, A., Javadi, A., Mobli, H., Abrinia, K., and Sharifi, A.,“A Review of Principle and Sun-Tracking Methods for Maximizing Solar Systems Output”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 13(8): 1800–1818, (2009).
  • [4] Said, Z., Ghodbane, M., Tiwari, A. K., Ali, H. M., Boumeddane, B., and Ali, Z. M., “4E (Energy, Exergy, Economic, and Environment) Examination of a Small LFR Solar Water Heater: An Experimental and Numerical Study”, Elsevier logo Journals & Books Go to journal home page - Case Studies in Thermal Engineering Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 27(October), 101277, (2021).
  • [5] Göttsche, J., Hoffschmidt, B., Schmitz, S., Sauerborn, M., Buck, R., Teufel, E., Badstübner, K., Ifland, D., and Rebholz, C., “Solar Concentrating Systems Using Small Mirror Arrays”, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, ASME, 132(1): 0110031–0110034, (2010).
  • [6] Ehtiwesh, I. A. S., “Experimental Evaluation for Enhancement of Small-Scale Concentrated Solar Power ‎ Systems – a Case Study ‎ for Solar Cooking”, Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, 45(4): 11681–11696, (2023).
  • [7] Saldivar-Aguilera, T. Q., Diaz-Ponce, A., Valentin-Coronado, L. M., Pena-Cruz, M. I., and Acevedo, R. G. A., “Dual Feedback Closed-Loop Control for One-Axis Solar Trackers of Parabolic Trough Collector Systems”, 2021 23rd IEEE Int. Autumn Meeting on Power, Electronics and Computing, ROPEC, (2021).
  • [8] Loni, R., Ghobadian, B., Kasaeian, A. B., Akhlaghi, M. M., Bellos, E., and Najafi, G., “Sensitivity Analysis of Parabolic Trough Concentrator Using Rectangular Cavity Receiver”, Applied Thermal Engineering, 169(April 2019), (2020).
  • [9] Rafiei, A., Loni, R., Ahmadi, M. H., Najafi, G., Bellos, E., Rajaee, F., and Asli-Ardeh, E. A., “Sensitivity Analysis of a Parabolic Trough Concentrator with Linear V‐shape”, eEnergy Science & Engineering, 8: 3544–3560, (2020).
  • [10] Liang, H., Zhu, C., Fan, M., You, S., Zhang, H., and Xia, J., “Study on the Thermal Performance of a Novel Cavity Receiver for Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors”, Applied Energy, 222(April), 790–798, (2018).
  • [11] Alghol, A., and Karim, M., “Design and Fabrication of Parabolic Trough Collector”, Sabratha University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bs.c project, (2016).
  • [12] Ahmed, A., and Moaad, A., “Optimization of Parabolic Trough Collector”, Sabratha University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bs.c project, (2021).
  • [13] Ehtiwesh, I. A. S., Neto Da Silva, F., and Sousa, A. C. M., “Deployment of Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power Plants in North Africa – a Case Study for Libya”, International Journal of Green Energy, (2018).
  • [14] Ehtiwesh, I. A. S., Coelho, M. C., and Sousa, A. C. M., “Exergetic and Environmental Life Cycle Assessment Analysis of Concentrated Solar Power Plants”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 56: 145–155, (2016).
  • [15] Kalogirou, S. A., “Solar Energy Collectors”, Solar Energy Engineering Processes and Systems, Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier, 125–220, (2014).
  • [16] Ehtiwesh, I., Neto da Silva, F., and Sousa, A., “Performance and Economic Analysis of Concentrated Solar Power Plants in Libya”, 2nd International Conference on Energy and Environment: Bringing Together Engineering and Economics, ICEE, 18-19 June, Guimarães, Portugal, 459–66, (2015).
  • [17] Farzanehnia, A., Khatibi, M., Sardarabadi, M., and Passandideh-Fard, M., “Experimental Investigation of Multiwall Carbon Nanotube/Paraffin Based Heat Sink for Electronic Device Thermal Management”, Energy Conversion and Management, 179: 314–325, (2019).
  • [18] Ghodbane, M., Boumeddane, B., Hussain, F., Zhar, R., Lahrech, K., Bhatti, J., Zhang, B., Yassin, H., De Silva, L. C., and Barbón, A., “Evaluation of the Design and Optical Errors for a Parabolic Trough Collector Field in an Algerian Desert Region: Gassi-Touil as a Study Area”, Energy Reports, 8(November), 15326–15337, (2022).
  • [19] Faheem, M., Jizhan, L., Akram, M. W., Khan, M. U., Yongphet, P., Tayyab, M., and Awais, M., “Design Optimization, Fabrication, and Performance Evaluation of Solar Parabolic Trough Collector for Domestic Applications”, Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization and Environmental Effects, 1–20, (2020).
  • [20] Özcan, A., Devecioğlu, A. G., and Oruç, V., “Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector for Water Heating Application”, Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization and Environmental Effects, 44(2): 4184–4203, (2022).
  • [21] El Moussaoui, N., Talbi, S., Atmane, I., Kassmi, K., Schwarzer, K., Chayeb, H., and Bachiri, N., “Feasibility of a New Design of a Parabolic Trough Solar Thermal Cooker (PSTC)”, Solar Energy, 201(February), 866–871, (2022).
  • [22] Harmim, A., Merzouk, M., Boukar, M., and Amar, M., “Performance Study of a Box-Type Solar Cooker Employing an Asymmetric Compound Parabolic Concentrator”, Energy, 47(1): 471–480, (2012).
  • [23] Forristall, R., Heat Transfer Analysis and Modeling of a Parabolic Trough Solar Receiver Implemented in Engineering Equation Solver, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Technical Report NREL/TP-550-34169, (2023).
  • [24] Incropera, F., Bergman, T., Lavine, A., and Dewitt, D., Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, John Wiley & Sons, (2011).
  • [25] Burkholder, F., and Kutscher, C., Heat Loss Testing of Schott’s 2008 PTR70 Parabolic Trough Receiver, Technical Report: NREL/TP-550-45633, (2009).
  • [26] Ehtiwesh, I. A. S., and Sousa, A. C. M., “Numerical Model for the Thermal Behavior of Thermocline Storage Tanks”, Heat Mass Transfer, 54(3): 831–839, (2018).
  • [27] Padilla, R., “Simplified Methodology for Designing Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plants”, PhD Thesis, University of South Florida, (2011).
  • [28] Dudley, E., Kolb, J., Mahoney, R., Mancini, T., Matthews, C., Sloan, M., and Kearney, D., “Test Results: SEGS LS-2 Solar Collector, Report: SAND94-1884”, (1994).
There are 28 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Solar Energy Systems
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Ismael Ehtiwesh 0000-0002-4128-6290

Early Pub Date December 9, 2023
Publication Date
Published in Issue Year 2025 Early View

Cite

APA Ehtiwesh, I. (2023). Experimental Investigation of a Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power ‎Systems. Gazi University Journal of Science1-1. https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.1311796
AMA Ehtiwesh I. Experimental Investigation of a Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power ‎Systems. Gazi University Journal of Science. Published online December 1, 2023:1-1. doi:10.35378/gujs.1311796
Chicago Ehtiwesh, Ismael. “Experimental Investigation of a Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power ‎Systems”. Gazi University Journal of Science, December (December 2023), 1-1. https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.1311796.
EndNote Ehtiwesh I (December 1, 2023) Experimental Investigation of a Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power ‎Systems. Gazi University Journal of Science 1–1.
IEEE I. Ehtiwesh, “Experimental Investigation of a Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power ‎Systems”, Gazi University Journal of Science, pp. 1–1, December 2023, doi: 10.35378/gujs.1311796.
ISNAD Ehtiwesh, Ismael. “Experimental Investigation of a Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power ‎Systems”. Gazi University Journal of Science. December 2023. 1-1. https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.1311796.
JAMA Ehtiwesh I. Experimental Investigation of a Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power ‎Systems. Gazi University Journal of Science. 2023;:1–1.
MLA Ehtiwesh, Ismael. “Experimental Investigation of a Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power ‎Systems”. Gazi University Journal of Science, 2023, pp. 1-1, doi:10.35378/gujs.1311796.
Vancouver Ehtiwesh I. Experimental Investigation of a Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Concentrated Solar Power ‎Systems. Gazi University Journal of Science. 2023:1-.