IN SEARCH OF FEASIBILITY THERMAL ENERGY USING PARABOLIC TROUGH DESIGN.

Abstract

This article describes a collaborative activity between faculty members from the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Oviedo and engineers from the TERMOPOWER company to develop a prototype of a parabolic trough that allowed the company to acquire the know-how required for the industrial development of this type of equipment that allows them to enter the solar market, with a design based on technical and economic criteria. It identifies all the critical design elements, the interception factor and its influence on the parabolic trough´s efficiency. We describe the loads to be considered, wind speed, deformation criteria and methodology used.This paper shows how simulation software, 3D modeling and finite element calculation play a crucial role nowadays in looking for optimal design. It also shows how the interception factor is affected by reflector misalignment or tracking errors.