DISS
Parabolic Trough · 1998
About this facility
This test facility was erected and put into operation to experiment with direct generation of high-pressure, high-temperature (100 bar/500 °C) steam in parabolic-trough collector absorber tubes. The facility consists of two subsystems, the solar field of parabolic-trough collectors and the balance of plant (BOP). In the solar field, feed water is preheated, evaporated and converted into superheated steam at a maximum pressure of 100 bar and maximum temperature of 500 °C as it circulates through the absorber tubes of a 1000 m long row of parabolic-trough collectors, with a total collecting surface of 5400 m². The system can produce a nominal superheated steam flow rate of 1 kg/s. In the BOP, this superheated steam is condensed, processed and reused as feed water for the solar field (closed-loop operation).
Sectors and technologies
Power generation, Industrial Process Heat (125-500°C)
Technical specifications
17 parameters| Facility type | Parabolic Trough |
|---|---|
| Year of construction | 1998 |
| Total number of collectors | 16 (5400 m² collecting surface) |
| Type of collector | 9 LS-3 (LUZ), 100 m each; 2 LS-3 (LUZ), 50 m each; 2 ET-100, 100 m each; 3 Solarlite PTC, 100 m each |
| Collector length/width [m] | 100 m or 50 m, depending on collector model |
| Collector orientation | North-South |
| Type of receiver | Schott upgraded PTR-70 receiver tubes for 100 bar / 550 °C |
| Working fluid | Water |
| Nominal output temperature [°C] | 500 °C |
| Nominal output pressure [bar abs] | 100 |
| Nominal power on target [kW] | 2700 |
| Total reflective area [m²] | 5400 |
| Reflectivity of reflective area (when clean) | 0.92 |
| Peak flux on target [kW/m²] | 40 |
| Maximum sun concentration | 44 |
| Power conversion system | No; the steam is condensed in an air-cooled condenser and recirculated to the solar field |
| Thermal energy storage | No |
Available services
- Geometrical assessment of Solar Concentrators (Single Facets, Point and Line Focus Collectors)
- Optical and thermal characterization of solar concentrators
- Parabolic Trough Collector’s Characterization
Contact & links
Diego-César Alarcón-Padilla (diego.alarcon@psa.es)