Learn about Parabolic and Fresnel Solar Thermal Reflectors for Concentrating Sunlight

Solar thermal energy is a technology for harnessing solar energy for thermal energy (heat). Solar thermal collectors are defined by the USA Energy Information Administration as low-, medium-, or high-temperature collectors. Low temperature collectors are flat plates generally used to heat swimming pools. Medium-temperature collectors are also usually flat plates but are used for creating hot water for residential and commercial use.

High temperature collectors concentrate sunlight using mirrors or lenses and are generally used for electric power production.

STE is different from photovoltaics, which convert solar energy directly into electricity.

Here are the different types of solar energy concentrators

Parabolic trough solar systems use long, parabolic-shaped mirrors or linear Fresnel reflectors to collect and focus sunlight onto a receiver tube that contains a fluid. The fluid inside the tube is heated to create superheated steam that powers a turbine generator to produce electricity.

Parabolic Trough Collectors – The sun’s energy is concentrated on an oil-filled, solar absorbing transparent glass tube running along the focal line of the parabolically shaped trough.

Linear Fresnel Reflectors - Differ from parabolic trough in that the absorber is fixed in space above the slightly curved or flat Fresnel reflectors. Sometimes a small parabolic mirror is added to the top of the receiver to further focus sunlight

Arizona

• Abengoa Solar is constructing a 280-MW parabolic trough project with 6-hour molten salt storage.

California

• Solel is constructing a 553-MW complex of parabolic trough power plants in the Mojave Desert.

• Beacon Solar Energy Project announced plans to build a 250-MW parabolic trough plant.

• Victorville 2 Hybrid Power Project announced plans to build a 563-MW natural gas plant with a 50-MW parabolic trough addition.

• Hybrid Gas-Solar Project – The city of Palmdale plans to build a 570-MW natural gas plant with a 50-MW parabolic trough addition.

• Harper Lake Solar LLC announced plans to build a 250-MW parabolic trough power plant in San Bernadino County.

• Ausra Inc. announced plans to build a 177-MW CSP power plant using compact linear Fresnel reflectors near San Luis Obispo.

Colorado

Xcel energy and Abengoa are partnering on a demonstration plant using solar parabolic trough technology to supplement the use of coal

Spain

• Solar Millennium, Flagsol, Cobra S.A., and Sener S.A., are building a 50-MW parabolic trough plant called Andasol 1 in Granada. An Andasol 2 and 3 are already being planned.

• Iberdrola is constructing a 50-MW parabolic trough plant at Puertollano in southern Castile.

Israel

• Solel is constructing a 150-MW parabolic power plant in the Nevada desert.

Egypt

• Egypt announced plans to build a 40-MW steam input for a gas-powered plant with parabolic trough design.

Algeria

• Algeria announced plans to build an integrated solar combined cycle power station near the town of Hassi R’mel. The plant will combine a 25-MW parabolic trough array in conjunction with a 130-MW combined cycle gas turbine plant.

Abu Dhabi

• The Shams Project announced plans to build a 100-MW parabolic trough power plant near the town of Madinat Zayad.

Morocco

• The announced Beni Mathar Plant is an integrated power station with an installed capacity to generate 472-MW of electricity, including 20-MW from a parabolic trough solar power add

Short URL: http://www.solarthermalmagazine.com/?p=3326

Posted by Tracey A. Smith on Sep 16 2010. Filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry