Thermal Analysis of Parabolic and Fresnel Linear Solar Collectors Using Compressed Gases as Heat Transfer Fluid in CSP Plants

Roberto Grena, Michela Lanchi (), Marco Frangella, Vittorio Ferraro, Valerio Marinelli and Marco D’Auria
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Roberto Grena: ENEA—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, 00123 Rome, Italy
Michela Lanchi: ENEA—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, 00123 Rome, Italy
Marco Frangella: Department of Mechanical Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Vittorio Ferraro: Department of Mechanical Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Valerio Marinelli: Department of Mechanical Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Marco D’Auria: ENEA—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, 00123 Rome, Italy

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-24

Abstract: This study introduces the use of compressed air as a heat transfer fluid in small-scale, concentrated linear solar collector technology, evaluating its possible advantages over traditional fluids. This work assumes the adoption of readily available components for both linear parabolic trough and Fresnel collectors and the coupling of the solar field with Brayton cycles for power generation. The aim is to provide a theoretical analysis of the applicability of this novel solar plant configuration for small-scale electricity generation. Firstly, a lumped thermal model was developed in a MatLab ® (v. 2023a) environment to assess the thermal performance of a PT collector with an evacuated receiver tube. This model was then modified to describe the performance of a Fresnel collector. The resulting optical–thermal model was validated through literature data and appears to provide realistic estimates of temperature distribution along the entire collector length, including both the receiver tube surface and the Fresnel collector’s secondary concentrator. The analysis shows a high thermal efficiency for both Fresnel and parabolic collectors, with average values above 0.9 (in different wind conditions). Th5s study also shows that the glass covering of the Fresnel evacuated receiver, under the conditions considered (solar field outlet temperature: 550 °C), reaches significant temperatures (above 300 °C). Furthermore, due to the presence of the secondary reflector, the temperature difference between the upper and the lower part of the glass envelope can be very high, well above 100 °C in the final part of the collector string. Differently, in the case of PTs, this temperature difference is quite limited (below 30 °C).

Keywords: Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology; parabolic trough collectors; Fresnel collectors; solar receiver model; gaseous heat transfer fluid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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