Dynamic modeling and simulation of parabolic trough solar

Solar energy has become increasingly distinguished among the renewable resources and solar parabolic trough solar thermal power plants have proved the most mature solar thermal technology by far. In this paper, a dynamic mathematical collector model is established and verified based on the photo-thermal conversion process of parabolic trough collector. Combined the validated model with pumps, oil-water heat exchanger and other existing models, a parabolic trough solar field system is built on the simulation platform. Furthermore, considering the collector loops and solar collector assemblies (SCA), the solar field layout is optimized according to diverse irradiation conditions. In view of one chosen optimum solar field, its dynamic characteristics are tested by the real-time simulation under the disturbances of different irradiation conditions, changeable working medium parameters, etc. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.