The Solar Concentrator Training System is a compact and miniaturized version of Solar parabolic trough collector-based water heating system. The system consists of parabolic reflectors, absorber tube, sun tracker, piping, storage tanks and a heat exchanger. A control panel would control different devices and also measure the different parameters of the system. The system can be used to perform experiments on heat transfer, parabolic trough characteristics and heat loss at different parts of the system. The system is highly flexible – it can be used with different working fluids, different absorbing materials, different piping insulation thickness and different types of storage tanks. This gives a lot of scope for research in heat transfer and related fields. Wind speed variation and flow velocity are other parameters which can be changed to show their impact on heat transfer and heat loss.

The system can be broadly divided into three parts a) Heat generating unit with tracking system, b) Storage unit and c) control unit. Heat generating unit consists of a parabolic reflector focusing sunlight on absorber tubes. Storage unit consists of two supply tanks one with heat exchanger and other without heat exchanger and control unit consists of measurement panel and sensors.

The system enables user to study and learn about Solar thermal technologies in easy and interactive manner. It educates the user about basics on solar thermal Solar Parabolic Trough Collector technology, basic terminologies used for solar thermal technology like temperature, pressure, flow measurement install collector/receiver mounting structures on the foundations etc.

Technical Characteristics ≫

• Dual axis sun tracking.
• Two types of absorber tubes.
• Two types of Working Fluid
• Flexibility to change the working fluid
• Flexibility to change the absorber tube.
• Evaluation of different parameters (UL, FR and efficiency) with oil/ water as working fluid.
• Provision to vary the flow rate of fluid.
• Provision to change insulation thickness.
• An active measurement panel to measure inlet temperature, outlet temperature, plate temperature, flow of water and wind speed

Technical Advantages ≫

• Modular and Scalable design
• 2 storage tanks for 2 different types of fluids
• A chiller can also be incorporated (optional)
• System is rigorously tested and can work continuously without switching off.
• Require very less space for installation.
• Reliable Quality: Basically, no after sales service is required.
• System comes with an illustrated experiment manual detailing every wiring connection to be made.
• Specifications can be customized as per requirement.
• Detailed demonstration and training of system is done during commissioning of the system.

Experiments ≫

• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the of the Parabolic Trough collector with fixed parameters with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with varying solar insulation with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with varying flow rate of fluid with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with changing insulation thickness with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with different inlet fluid temperatures with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with different wind speed with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Determine the Performance factors such as Heat loss coefficient (UL), Heat Removal Factor (FR), Overall efficiency (η) of the Parabolic Trough collector with different ambient temperature with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid
• Find an optimum flow rate of fluid for getting minimum heat losses (or maximum heat gain) for different insulation thickness with (i) water and (ii) oil as working fluid

Research Options ≫

• Heat loss and heat gain analysis at different operating conditions
• System efficiency optimization with different absorber tube material
• System efficiency optimization with change in working fluid
• Optimization for maximum system efficiency with the help of control algorithm of pump
• Optimization in insulation cost and thickness for achieving maximum efficiency

Specifications ≫

Components	Sub-Components	Specifications
Heat generating unit with Tracking system	Parabolic Trough collector
	Reflecting material	SS (acrylic mirror in next version)
	Length	1219.2  (mm)
	Arc length (perimeter)	1828.8 (mm)
	Absorber tube
	Number	2
	Absorber material	Copper, SS
	Tracking system
	Mode of tracking	Single axis (dual axis in next version)
Storage unit	Supply tanks
	Material	SS
	Number	2
	Storage tank-1
	Material	SS
	Storage tank-2 (with heat exchanger)
	Material	SS
	Storage tank Insulation
Control Unit	Sensors and regulators
	Temperature meters with sensors
	Flow meter with sensor
	Flow Regulator
Accessories	Radiation meter
	Range	0 to 1999 (W/m2)
	Anemometer
	Wind speed Range	0.4 to 45.0 (m/Sec)
	Temperature range	-14 to 60
	Pump -1
	Type	Hot water
	Pump -2
	Type	Hot oil
	Pipe and fitting
	Oil
	Type	Therm-oil
	Manual