SECTION C: ENGINEERING
The influence of the incident angle of a solar concentrating system to be applied to direct steam generation is reported. Such system consists of an ensemble of a trough collector and a receiver, through which water flows as heating fluid. The trough collector is inclined according to the latitude coordinate, parabolically curved and one-axis tracked. The collector is mathematically analyzed using the data of a typical solar year, and it is compared with another one without inclination. There is a significant improvement in the cosine optical efficiency throughout the year in the polar parabolic trough collector, especially in the winter season. This ensemble is also analyzed employing computer tools based on Tonatiuh Ray-Tracing methodology, and the optimal receiver dimensions were calculated. The polar parabolic trough collector is a promising collector for concentrated solar power systems at subtropical latitudes; it provides a better usage of the solar resource for the processes involved in getting heat or generating electricity, especially in medium and low scale applications.
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