Performance analysis of Azimuth Tracking Fixed Mirror Solar Concentrator

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe fixed mirror solar collector (FMSC) fixes reflector and mobiles receiver to collect solar energy. However, this type of concentrator has a low efficiency and short operating duration in practical applications. In this paper, we propose to install the FMSC on an azimuth tracking device (ATFMSC) and the reflectors are arranged by intermission to avoid the shading of neighbor reflector for incidence angle of less than 10 to improve its optical performance. Through the integration of the reflected solar radiation distribution function over any reflection point, and then the whole collector aperture, we develop the analytical expressions of various system efficiencies to numerically simulate the performance of ATFMSC with evacuated tube receiver in different design parameters. It is validated by the ray tracing results. The result shows that the mean annual net heat efficiency of the whole system would be up to 61% with the operating temperature of 400 C, which is higher than parabolic trough collector and traditional FMSC. This is because the longitudinal incidence angle of ATFMSC always remains zero by tracking the sun azimuth, so the end loss of the concentrator can be avoided and enables it to operate with high efficiency continually.

Technological assessment of different solar-biomass systems for hybrid power generation in Europe

“…FMSC is not a proven technology for large scale electric power generation till to date due to its low efficiency. Li et.al [76] developed an Azimuth tracking system which improved optical performance by reducing shading effects of neighbouring reflectors for incident angle of less than 10°. The proposed system was validated by ray tracking results and showed that the design can produce temperature of 400°C with 61% efficiency.…”

“…Large solar pond can be deployed for multiple applications such as power generation, thermal energy storage, space or industrial process heating to make the plant economically viable [73,76]. Solar Pond has immense potentiality to be deployed for power generation and energy storage system.…”

Proposed Design for Single Axis Photovoltaic Solar Tracker

“…Renewable energy sources are friendlier to the environment and more sustainable compared to fossil fuels Renewable energy includes several forms such as solar and wind energy [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The sun tracking system in different solar energy applications plays an important role where its benefits over the fixed systems not limited to the power and efficiency gains and increase, but also in the large-scale solar energy applications economic analyses [7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

“…The predominant two categories of tracking-single and dual axis tracking-have different features compared to each other. Although the dual-axis tracking is more complicated and has a higher cost, which uses more instruments and equipment [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Solar tracking systems can be divided into two main types, namely, active and passive solar tracking systems.…”

“…Solar tracking systems can be divided into two main types, namely, active and passive solar tracking systems. Active solar tracking systems use gears and motors to control photovoltaic modules, whereas passive tracking systems use a low boiling-point compressed gas fluid that originates from [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. The sun tracking systems have different based designs and components.…”