Abstract:
A parabolic trough with an aperture width of 1.40 m. and
a length of 2.40 m. was designed and constructed. In order to
reduce the weight of the trough, aiuminum bars were selected
as the skeletal structure and anodized aluminum sheets as the
reflective surface. The receiver consisted of a 25 mm. diameter
tube surrounded by a concentric transparent pyrex tube of 50 mm.
diameter. The concentration ratio of the system was about 13.
The trough, without a sun tracking device was placed
horizontally along in the north-south axis. However, during, the
experiments the trough was tracked the sun manually every 5
minutes.
Test results from 9.00 a.m. -15.00 p.m. on a clear day
showed that the highest average temperature on the absorber tube
surface and the average heat transfer oil temperature we~e equal,
approximately 226 C. The cost of this oollector system was
approximately 1,955 baht/m2.