Mathematical Model for Calculating Performance of Parabolic Through Collector

The work deals with the transformation of solar energy into thermal energy through concentric solar collector. The subject of the research is the parabolic trough collector situated in Žilina. Solar collector including focal absorber was produced according to our own design. The absorber consists of two black coated contradictory pipes serving as inlet/outlet of heat exchanger. The reflector is made of bent polished aluminium sheet. Collector uses automatic tracking system and consists of firm frame attached to concrete floor, which limits the sun tracking to one axis. Trough of the collector is oriented as east-west position with a small deviation of approximately 10°. To determine the required output of collector is necessary to perform optical and thermal analyses. The aim of the work is creating mathematical model to get a theoretical performance of collector. Mathematical model with calculations for specific collector and its geographical position is created in program MS Excel. Although the mathematical model provides theoretical performance parameters it doesn’t include the effect of environment and so the values differ from real conditions. The results of work will serve as an information basis for the following research of cogeneration system using a solar collector.