Parabolic trough solar collector: A review on geometrical interpretation, mathematical model, and thermal performance augmentation

Abstract

In recent decades, solar energy has emerged as the most promising renewable energy source and the best alternative to conventional energy due to its abundant availability, free, clean, no atmospheric hazards, eco-friendly, sustainable nature, and other factors. Because of its wide temperature range (up to 400 °C), the parabolic trough solar collector is the most commonly used in concentrated solar power technology. A parabolic trough solar collector can be divided into two types based on its applications: low to medium temperature and medium to high temperature. The first category is widely utilized in household hot water, water purification, industrial process heating, desalination, and food processing, among other uses. Another is used in the electricity-producing process. The present review paper focuses on various aspects of parabolic trough solar collector, such as general description, geometrical interpretation, and mathematical models dealing with geometrical parameters and various types of performance calculations, trough modeling using a computational fluid dynamics tool, solar simulator, thermal resistance model, and losses. Furthermore, highlights on recent advances in thermal performance enhancement by various techniques, mainly by using modified working fluid (nanofluid), turbulators, and the modified surface of absorber tube, are presented in literature form and summarized in table. This review paper will be of great help to researchers who have a keen interest in parabolic trough solar collector based systems.