Optical performance investigation for a parabolic trough collector equipped with an innovative flat tube receiver

Abstract

This study examines the optical performance of a parabolic trough solar collector (PTC) system with an innovative flat tube receiver, analyzed using Monte Carlo Ray Tracing (MCRT) simulations in SolTrace. The transition from a circular to a flat tube geometry was achieved by stretching the circular cross-section while maintaining a constant area. Results indicate that horizontal flat tubes significantly improve optical efficiency, with gains of up to 21.93 % for smaller diameters (10–20 mm), though at the cost of increased flux non-uniformity. For a 70 mm base diameter, efficiency improved by 0.52 % at a 1.6 stretching ratio, with a 7.8 % rise in non-uniformity. In contrast, vertical flat tubes slightly reduced efficiency (by 0.56 %) but enhanced flux uniformity, lowering non-uniformity by 11.88 %. These findings provide key insights into the trade-offs between efficiency and flux uniformity, supporting the optimization of PTC receiver designs for advanced solar energy applications.