Modification of Receiver to Improve the Efficiency of Parabolic Trough Collector

Abstract

This paper contains the study about the heat loss area of the receiver pipe, process of modification of the receiver pipe to reduce the heat loss and analytical comparison between the modified and ordinary cylindrical receiver pipe. The lower portion of receiver pipe which is in rim angle region receives and also radiates heat and the remaining upper part only radiates heat. In modification this remaining area is reduced without effecting the heat receiving area of the receiver. By replacing the rounded upper surface by a flat surface, the amount of direct radiation falling on that surface remains same as the rounded surface. Then the loss is analyzed and compared with the previous cylindrical receiver. The results are analyzed by simulating the equations and calculating the efficiencies of different model of receiver pipe and showing them in graph with the help of MATLAB. Values of structure are assumed and the parameters which depend on materials and environment are taken from previous research papers. By modifying the receiver and simulating equations with MATLAB, the efficiency of the parabolic trough collector has increased compared to the ordinary cylindrical receiver.