Performance Analysis of a Parabolic Trough Collector with Photovoltaic—Thermal Generation: Case Study and Parametric Study

Benjamín Chavarría-Domínguez, Susana Estefany De León-Aldaco (), Mario Ponce-Silva, Nicolás Velázquez-Limón, Jesús Armando Aguilar-Jiménez, Fernando Chavarría-Domínguez, Ernesto Raúl Rodríguez-García, Heriberto Adamas-Pérez, Ricardo Eliu Lozoya-Ponce and Eligio Flores-Rodriguez
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Benjamín Chavarría-Domínguez: Department of Electronic Engineering, National Technological Institute of Mexico—National Center for Research and Technological Development, Cuernavaca 62490, Mexico
Susana Estefany De León-Aldaco: Department of Electronic Engineering, National Technological Institute of Mexico—National Center for Research and Technological Development, Cuernavaca 62490, Mexico
Mario Ponce-Silva: Department of Electronic Engineering, National Technological Institute of Mexico—National Center for Research and Technological Development, Cuernavaca 62490, Mexico
Nicolás Velázquez-Limón: Center for the Study of Renewable Energies, Institute of Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali 21280, Mexico
Jesús Armando Aguilar-Jiménez: Center for the Study of Renewable Energies, Institute of Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali 21280, Mexico
Fernando Chavarría-Domínguez: Faculty of Engineering, Veracruz University, Coatzacoalcos 96538, Mexico
Ernesto Raúl Rodríguez-García: Faculty of Engineering, Veracruz University, Coatzacoalcos 96538, Mexico
Heriberto Adamas-Pérez: Academic Division of Industrial Mechanics, Emiliano Zapata University of Technology, Emiliano Zapata 62765, Mexico
Ricardo Eliu Lozoya-Ponce: Division of Graduate Studies and Research, National Technological Institute of Mexico Campus Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31310, Mexico
Eligio Flores-Rodriguez: National Technological Institute of Mexico—Los Reyes Institute of Technology, Los Reyes 60300, Mexico

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: This study presents a mathematical model of a parabolic trough solar collector with photovoltaic cells integrated into its solar receiver. A case study is presented, utilizing meteorological data obtained from the localities of Cuernavaca and Mexicali in Mexico. The results demonstrate moderately variable electrical and thermal energy production for Cuernavaca (387.93 kWh to 239.38 kWh and 1036.11 kWh to 641.26 kWh, respectively). In contrast, the production of electrical and thermal energy in Mexicali exhibited considerably greater fluctuations (515.16 kWh to 177.69 kWh and 1424.39 kWh to 448.88 kWh, respectively). Furthermore, a parametric study is presented, which analyzes the impact of solar receiver geometry and mass flow on the model’s behavior. The results demonstrate that the pipe length exerts the most significant influence on the electrical and thermal power output (1.21 kW to 2.22 kW and 3.7 kW to 6.9 kW, respectively). Additionally, the diameter has an impact on the thermal power output (5.23 kW to 7.1 kW) and the electrical and thermal efficiency (0.18 to 0.15 and 0.54 to 0.74, respectively). Modifying the mass flow facilitates the enhancement of electrical power and efficiency (1.54 kW to 1.72 kW and 0.16 to 0.18, respectively) while concurrently preventing a significant reduction in thermal power and efficiency (5.4 kW to 5.3 kW and 0.56 to 0.55, respectively). A script with the developed model is provided.

Keywords: concentrated photovoltaic/thermal; thermal modeling; solar energy (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: 2025
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