Thermal performance analysis of linear fresnel reflector concentrator with a compound parabolic cavity absorber

Abstract

This paper reports on an analysis of the thermal performance of a linear fresnel reflector concentrator (LFRC) with a compound parabolic cavity (CPC) absorber. A steady-state heat transfer model is developed for the concentrator, while a network model is used to investigate the radiative heat transfer within the CPC. Simulation results indicate that the collector temperature increases along the receiver tube length. It is also shown that the overall thermal loss is predominated by the heat transfer from the glass pane to the ambient. In addition, the results show that the key factors that influence the thermal performance of this type of concentrator include the transmissivity of the glass pane, the reflectivity of the CPC, and the emissivity of the CPC insulation.