PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION OF SOLAR PARABOLIC TROUGH CONCENTRATOR USING BLACK PAINT COATING ON THE ABSORBER

This paper is based upon an experimental study of two different parabolic trough collectors which have been designed, fabricated and evaluated to derive a comparison between their performances, in producing hot water, by using a black coated receiver tube and an uncoated receiver tube. The Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors uses Stainless steel sheet in the shape of a parabolic cylinder to concentrate and reflect the radiations from the Sun towards an absorbing receiver tube made of Galvanized Iron (G.I), located at the focus line of the PTC. The receiver tube in the first PTC is uncoated whereas the second PTC consists of a black enameled receiver tube. The receiver tube assimilates the incoming radiations leading to their transformation into thermal energy which is further transported and collected by a fluid medium circulating within the receiver tube.