Analytical Approach for Hybrid Line and Point Solar Concentrator

This work is specifically based on the investigation and prediction of the performance behavior of hybrid line and point solar collector combinations. In the case of line type, cylindrical parabolic trough collectors (PTC) and cylindrical semi-parabolic dish solar collectors (SPDC) are carefully chosen and combined together. From earlier research studies, it is clearly stated that a parabolic trough is useful for medium-temperature applications and a dish is preferred for high-temperature applications because of its individual unique constructional and geometrical features. Both solar collectors have been analytically tested in relation to three variables: mass flow rate (0.002–0.005 kg/s), solar irradiance (300–900 W/m²), and heat transfer fluid inlet temperature (30–70 °C), respectively. The effects of these variables on collector overall efficiency, heat transfer fluid outlet temperature, and overall heat loss coefficient are estimated for individual solar collector cases. For PTC and SPDC, 17% and 13% maximum rises in thermal efficiencies are attained when operating at a lower value of inlet fluid temperature and a high amount of direct solar irradiation (700 W/m²), respectively. Analytically designed PTC provides a 42% higher thermal efficiency but a 48% lower heat removal rate and overall loss coefficient (FRUL) than SPDC, while the opposite condition occurs on the SPDC side, so the hybrid combination provides better thermal performance when operated together.