Parabolic trough

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A parabolic trough is a type of solar thermal collector. It is constructed as a long parabolic mirror (usually coated silver or polished aluminum) with a Dewar tube running its length at the focal point. Sunlight is reflected by the mirror and concentrated on the Dewar tube. The trough is usually aligned on a north-south axis, and rotated to track the sun. Heat transfer fluid (usually oil) runs through the tube to absorb the concentrated sunlight. The heat transfer fluid is then used to heat steam in a standard turbine generator. The process is economical and, for heating the pipe, thermal efficiency ranges from 60-80%.

Current commercial plants utilizing parabolic troughs are hybrids, fossil fuels are used during night hours, but the amount of fossil fuel used is limited to a maximum 27% of electricity production, so that the plant qualifies as a renewable energy source. Because they are hybrids and include cooling stations, condensers, accumulators and other things besides the actual solar collectors, the kWh per square meter of space ranges enormously.

The largest operational solar power system at present is of this type. It is one of the SEGS plants and is located at Kramer Junction in California, USA, with five fields of 33MW generation capacity each.[1]

The 64 MW Nevada Solar One will also use this technology. In the new Spanish plant, Andasol 1, the 'Eurotrough'-collector will be used. This plant will be built in 2006/2007 and has a nominal output of 49.9 MW.

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• Kramer Junction Solar Power Plants - satellite image, Google Map.