Prototype Testing of a 300kW_th Solar Parabolic-trough Collector Using Rotatable Axis Tracking

This paper originally depicts a prototype of 300KW_th solar parabolic-trough collector having rotatable axis tracking. This prototype has two operation patterns with the rotatable and north-south axis tracking. The tests on the thermal performance are conducted in summer and autumn. The experimental results point out that the measured daily average solar collector efficiency achieves about 38.5% in autumn, with about 7.2 percentage points higher than that of conventional north-south axis tracking. Furthermore, we compare the performance of the prototype between in summer and autumn, leading to a feasible strategy for the improvement of annually average efficiency of solar collector. This study can provide a new approach for the improvement of average solar collector efficiency, bringing about cost-effective solar energy use.