Brief on Solar Concentrators: Differences and Applications

Abstract

In light of the global crises that the world suffers from, the renewable energy exploitation is a viable solution to remedy the various energy crises, knowing that renewable energy is a source of environmental credibility, as it does not cause any pollution or any emissions harmful to the environment. Among the most important renewable energy sources, solar energy is the most important type as it can be exploited thermally by adopting various solar collectors, especially solar concentrators. This paper has been devoted to illustrate the types of solar concentrators, namely point-focus concentrators (Heliostat Field Collectors and Parabolic Dish Collectors) and linear concentrators (Linear Fresnel Reflectors and Parabolic Trough Collectors), in an attempt to clarify its principle and its multiple uses domestically and industrially, especially in areas that are characterized by the abundance of its direct solar radiation. The solar concentrator is a solar thermal energy concentration system, because its use reduces the consumption of fossil fuels harmful to the environment and directly contributes to climate change. Solar thermal concentrators are an effective alternative to fossil generators for thermal energy, as they have many important uses such as the solar electricity production of solar electricity in power plants, industrial and domestic water heating, and have many other industrial uses.

Performance Analysis of a Solar-Driven Ejector Air Conditioning System Under El-Oued Climatic Conditions, Algeria

“…For the solar system with parabolic trough solar collectors (PTCs), the PTC designing cost is high compared to LFRs because it relies on the shaping of the glass to obtain the parabolic form of the reflecting mirror [23,[37][38][39]. On the other hand, the use of flat reflector mirrors will significantly reduce the manufacturing cost of the linear solar reflectors (LFRs) [40,41]. For this reason, much of the scientific research has been directed towards the development the solar systems with the Linear Fresnel solar Reflectors (LFRs), where many countries such as Spain and Germany have widely exploited this technology of acceptable price although its efficiency is low [41], but its thermal performance can be improved by using nanofluids [5,[42][43][44], because the nanoparticles immersed in pure fluid improve the thermal transfer between the working fluid and the receiver tube [45].…”

Optical Numerical Investigation of a Solar Power Plant of Parabolic Trough Collectors

“…Renewable energies are a major development globally, especially solar energy [1,2], which is the source of the remaining types of renewable energies. Renewable energy sources are preferred, not only because they can meet the global energy shortage that is mostly dependent on fossil energies, but also because renewable energies exist in abundance with sustainable and environmentally friendly energy.…”

Solar Energy Potential Evaluation. Case of Study: M'Sila, an Algerian Province

“…Conventional energy sources (coal, oil, and natural gas) have played an important role in the current industrial revolution. However, due to their excessive consumption, they are currently running out [1][2][3]. Fossil fuels contribute to global warming by emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases (particularly the well-known carbon dioxide, CO2) during combustion [2,4].…”

“…However, due to their excessive consumption, they are currently running out [1][2][3]. Fossil fuels contribute to global warming by emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases (particularly the well-known carbon dioxide, CO2) during combustion [2,4]. Aside from the problems outlined above, another downside of conventional energy is the volatile price of fossil fuels, which is particularly problematic for countries that import them [5].…”