Comparison of different solar plants based on parabolic trough technology

摘要: Abstract Solar thermal plants are among the most promising technologies to replace fossil fuel stationary applications, and within solar technologies, parabolic troughs considered mature application in market. This paper compares different field terms of both performance at design conditions annual energy production; an in-house code, PATTO, was used perform balances. We a reference case reflecting state-of-the-art Nevada One, which showed efficiency average 22.4% 15.3%, respectively, agreement with actual performance. If salts as heat-transfer fluid instead synthetic oil (e.g. ARCHIMEDE plant), improved range 6% due higher maximum temperature. Further thermodynamic advantages can be achieved direct steam generation plant; main drawback is more complex transient control no commercially available storage systems. propose innovative Milan configuration, combines evaporation use fluid, investigate for superheating reheating. Results this configuration very promising, sun-to-electric 17.8%, 16% than case. Detailed daily simulations that significant low radiation. However, plant should optimized on economic basis we will discuss future paper.