Testing and Performance of Parabolic Trough Collector in Indian climate

A parabolic trough collector is a type of solar thermal collector that is straight in one dimension and curved as a parabola in the other two, lined with a polished metal. The energy of sunlight which enters the mirror parallel to its plane of symmetry is focused along the focal line, where object is positioned that is intended to be heated. It consists of a tube, which runs the length of the trough at its focal line. The mirror is oriented so that sunlight which it reflects is concentrated on the tube, which contains a fluid which is heated to a high temperature by the energy of the sunlight. The hot fluid can be used for many purposes.