Heat loss testing and regression of parabolic trough solar receiver

The heat loss of the parabolic trough receiver manufactured by SunPu was tested using thermal equilibrium method. Experiment results show that the heat losses of the receiver are 21.2 W/m, 39.8 W/m, 50.5 W/m, and 88.8 W/m with the absorber temperature being 143.6°C, 200.9°C, 267.2°C, and 290.3°C, respectively. A mathematical regression model, in the form of H=f (T_abs; T_amb) = aT_abs⁴ + bT_amb⁴ + cT_amb, was established based on the dynamic heat transfer mechanism in the receiver and the experimental results obtained. It was indicated that the present regression results are in good agreement with the experiment results by NREL, thus validating the feasibility of the present regression model.