A comparative analysis of configurations of linear Fresnel collectors for concentrating solar power
Section snippets
Introduction and background
Main advantages of LFC (linear Fresnel collectors) are its simplicity, robustness and low capital cost, as well as the degrees of freedom one finds in the design process, which must be analyzed in depth for reaching the maximum outcome in the variable representing the plant performance.
On the contrary, from the annual performance perspective they seem to reach lower efficiencies than parabolic trough collectors, as it is showed in the technical literature [1], [2], [3], [4]. Performance losses
Methodology for optical characterization of Fresnel collectors
The optical analysis has been approached by means of a detailed Ray tracing program for Fresnel collectors. There are several Ray tracing programs reported in bibliography [46], [47]. Nevertheless, it was decided to develop a new code, implemented in Matlab in order to provide the program of a great modularity. Therefore, complex sensitivity analysis may be carried out to identify the parameters that have a greater influence on optical losses, and new designs may be easily analyzed.
Fresnel
Comparative analysis between central linear Fresnel collectors and compact linear Fresnel collectors
This last section is devoted to a comparative analysis between the CLFC configuration and central LFC configuration. As mentioned in Section 1.1, the main advantage of the CLFC configuration versus central LFC is based on that blocking optical losses decrease drastically, thanks to the use of two receivers for each mirror array. The annual simulations show whether this advantage provides better annual performance of such systems.
The following configurations are considered: a Central LFC with
Summary and future work
The optical analysis of a linear Fresnel collector is a complex problem which must be properly featured before making comparisons with other devices. Efforts have been firstly aimed at the development of a Ray tracing program oriented to perform annual simulations based on hourly data. All relevant processes are studied in detail both in the incidence and reflection of solar beams on the mirrors for later concentration on the receiver. As the program has been provided with a great modularity,
Acknowledgments
Technical discussions with other members of the Group of Investigaciones Termoenergéticas (UPM) were essential for this work.
This work has been partially supported by the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies at Potsdam, Germany.
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