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Design and experimental testing of a solar

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 DESIGN AND EXPERIMENTAL TESTING OF A SOLAR
PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTOR WITH ITS TRACKING
SYSTEM FOR SALT-WATER DESALINATION IN ARID AREAS
OF SAUDI ARABIA

Ahmed S. Hegazy1 and Mohamed M. ElMadany2

1
Mech. Engg. Department, Munofia University, Shebin AlKoom, Egypt
2 Mech. Engg. Department, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421,
mmadany@ksu.edu.sa

ABSTRACT
This paper is concerned with an experimental study of a parabolic trough collector with
its sun tracking system designed and manufactured utilizing the existing Saudi
technologies and available local materials. For the design of the PTC frame, a finite
element model has been developed and used to check the capability of the structure to
absorb torsion and bending forces, under dead and wind loads. The PTC was fabricated
in local workshops and the sun tracking system was assembled using off-the-shelf
electric and electronic components in the Saudi market, while the mechanical
components making up the driving system were procured from the second hand Saudi
market.
The fabricated PTC and its tracking system were tested outdoors on the roof of the
Mechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, Riyadh. The experimental
results obtained have shown that the obtained characteristic curve of the tested collector
is considerably lower than that of a typical collector which can be attributed to the
higher thermal losses for the lack of the evacuated glass envelop around the absorbing
tube, the end losses of the collector, and the inaccuracy in tracking the sun. However,
the average collection efficiency of this collector is about 40% which is fairly
acceptable, considering that it is the first attempt to manufacture such collector locally.
KEYWORDS
Design of parabolic trough collector, tracking system, testing of the collector, collector
efficiency.

Proceedings of the 7th Saudi Engineering Conference (SEC7)

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INTRODUCTION
Water shortage has become one of the major problems in many countries worldwide,
due to population growth and higher living standards. Desalination of salt water is a
means by which this problem can be overcome. The majority of the areas lacking fresh
water are mostly short of energy supply, which is needed to drive the desalination
system but they have abundant incident solar irradiation all over the year. Accordingly,
solar thermal desalination is a favorable solution to the problem of water supply there.
All thermal desalination systems make demand for heating steam to accomplish the
desalination process, e.g. for heating the salt water in the evaporator of the first effect
and stage of the multi effect distillation MED and multistage flash desalination MSF
plant, respectively. Parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) are preferred for solar steam-
generation since high temperatures can be obtained without any serious degradation of
the collector efficiency [1, 2]. The design of the parabolic trough collector system has
been addressed by Kalogirou [3] and Kalogirou et al. [4]
Most of the published studies of PTCs with tubular absorbers (receivers) are concerned
with the Luz trough collector used in the Solar Thermal Electric Generation Systems
(SEGS) plant [5, 6]. These studies considered using synthetic oil as the working fluid,
which is stored in a heat exchanger through which water is circulated for generating
steam. There are several problems associated with the use of thermal oils, such as
flammability, toxicity, thermal instability and high cost.
A direct steam generation collector (DSGC) has been proposed by Cohen and Kearney
[6] as a future development of the SEGS trough collector in order to eliminate the costly
synthetic oil, intermediate heat transport piping loop and oil to steam heat exchanger.
Three concepts for a DSGC collector system have been proposed by Dagan et al. [7]
and Lippke [8]. They are the once-through concept to generate superheated steam in one
pass, the re-circulation process concept to generate wet steam, and the injected water
system to control steam quality and flow instability along the absorber tube.
The collector field in a solar DSGC represents more than half the price of the total
system. Meanwhile the reliability of the DSGC depends mainly on the technical
specifications and thermal performance of the PTCs used. Technical problems of
optimal design and manufacturing of PTCs have been identified and their solutions have
been suggested [9-12]. In addition, a wide experience with operating and maintaining
such collectors has been collected [9-14]. For producing thermal energy at relatively
high temperatures, precise sun tracking is necessary in order to obtain high ideal
concentration ratio (ratio of the collector aperture area to the smallest absorber heat
transfer area that leads to interception of all reflected sun rays). To achieve this target,
technologically complicated tracking systems are needed which are very costly.
However, simple tracking devices have been developed by Tsagas, et al [15], which
result in lower ideal concentration ratios, but they are very cheap. For a concentration
ratio, less than the ideal one, as in this case, less reflected solar radiation is intercepted
by the absorber and consequently its optical efficiency is decreased. To counteract this
problem, the configuration of the collector receiver can be changed in such a way that
most of the concentrated rays are intercepted by the receiver [16]. This along with the
high incident solar insolation in Saudi Arabia encourages the local manufacture of the
PTCs, receiver, and tracking systems. Therefore, this paper presents the testing results
of an attempt to design and manufacture a parabolic trough collector along with its
tracking system utilizing the local raw materials and expertise.

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PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTOR DESIGN
A small-scale PTC model has been developed, installed and experimented in the open
area of the Solar Energy Laboratory (at the roof of Mechanical Engineering
Department, King Saud University, Riyadh). This model consists of the Metal support
frame, Parabolic mirror, Solar radiation absorbing system (pipe), Solar orbit “tracking”
system, and Driving system. The data of this model is given in Table 1.
Table 1 PTC system specifications
ITEM Value/Type
Collector aperture area 5.40 m2
Collector aperture 2.21 m
Aperture-to-length ratio 0.9
Rim angle 75°
Receiver diameter 38 mm
Collector intercept factor 0.9506
Tracking mechanism type Electronic
Mode of tracking N-S horizontal

a) Metal support frame of the PTC

The metal frame consists of two fixed base parts and one movable part. The parabolic
metal lattice is supported to the rotation axis of the parabolic mirror. The metal lattice’s
size is corresponding to the total area of the parabolic collector surface. It is used for the
rotation of the horizontal axis of the mirror (daily tracking of the sun). Tracking of the
daily solar orbit is achieved by rotation of the horizontal metal lattice around the PTC
axis. In order to guard against dead weight and wind loads, a finite element model of the
collector structure has been constructed and used to determine the collector deformation
and the resulting stresses under dead weight and wind loads, and to evaluate the
proposed concepts of the collector structures; see Appendix A for details. The model
has also been used to obtain the first four natural frequencies and the corresponding
mode shapes.

b) Parabolic mirror
The parabolic trough collector uses mirrored surfaces curved in a parabolic shape that
linearly extend into a trough shape. The total collector surface consists of one parabolic
mirror of 5.46 m2 (2.21 m x 2.44 m). The incident solar radiation is focused to a light
line (focus line) which is parallel to the rotation axis. The mirror is made of a glazed
stainless steel sheet with thickness of 2 mm.

c) Solar Radiation Absorption System

Solar radiation absorption system consists of a copper pipe which is placed parallel to
the rotation axis. Its placement coincides with the focal line. The pipe diameter is 38
mm and the wall thickness is small so that quick transfer of energy from solar radiation
to the working fluid is achieved. The outer pipe surface could be covered with a special
black paint (selective surface) which increases the absorbance of the incident solar
irradiance and reduces, simultaneously the reflectance.

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At the edge of the absorbing pipes, a flexible tube is used for the conveyance of the heat
- transfer fluid. For the circulation of the fluid (tap water), a regulating pump is used.
The absorption pipe is supported to the focusing line by a number of trapezoidal metal
light - weighted barriers, whose axis of symmetry is perpendicular to the rotation axis.
At the support points of the tube, there are joints which allow two - axis regulation. This
is very helpful in order to improve the focus quality. In other words, the distance
between the tube and the steel mirror can be modified for a few centimeters in such a
way that the tube is positioned to the focal line.

d) Solar Tracking System

Figure 1 shows the tracking system which is designed to provide a reasonably high
tracking accuracy consists of a current (d.c.) motor of 150 Watt, which rotates the
collector through two reduction gearboxes (1:40 each; the only available gearbox ratio
in the market, “off the shelf” gearboxes). A control system is used to accurately position
and operate the motor. Three roller chains are used to transmit the torque required to
rotate the trough collector. The chain drives provide a constant speed ratio, since no
slippage or creep is expected to be involved, and they are known to have a long life.
In the preliminary stages of the design of the control system, a number of sensors types
were considered including photocells, bimetallic strips, and light dependent resistor
(LDRS), Figure 2. These all have certain disadvantages, e.g. the performance of sensors
which depend upon heat differences is affected by other ambient conditions such as
wind and temperature. Photocells were rejected because they require a large area in
order to supply the power required for the operation of the relays. Moreover there are
operating problems when they are half shaded and half exposed to sunlight. The motor
in the present system switched off when the two LDRs receive direct sunlight (i.e.,
focused).
n=4.46x10-3r.p.m
n =2.60 r.p.m No of teeth = 60
n=103.63 r.p.m
No of teeth =44 No of teeth=11

Speed
Reduction Collector
Gearbox
Ratio 40:1

Speed
Motor Reduction
190 r.p.m Gearbox
Ratio 40:1

n=190 r.p.m
No of teeth=24 n=0.01787r.p.m
No of teeth = 15
n=0.715r.p.m
No of teeth = 40

Figure 1 Electrical driving-tracking mechanisms - System Diagram

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND PROCEDURE

The experimental setup used for testing the manufactured PTC is shown schematically
in Figure 3 and as a photo in Figure 4. It consists of the constructed PTC (1), a 200 liter
storage tank (2), a circulating pump (3) (centrifugal type) with maximum mass flow rate
of 0.25 kg/s, and a throttle valve (4). The pump is driven by a 1/3 hp ac motor.
In the current experiment, the water circuit is a closed one. The collecting tank is filled
(up to half) from main water supply. A pump circulates water from the collecting tank

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through the absorber tube of the solar collector back to the collecting tank. The Water
temperatures at inlet and outlet of the absorber tube, water mean flow rate, and solar
radiation intensity are continuously measured during the experiment:

T3 T1

T7 T5

T8 T6

T4 T2

Transistor No. Name Transistor No. Name

BD 239 T1 & T3 (3) X 2 SC 1115 T5 & T7
BD 240 T2 & T4 (3) X 2 SC 1075 T6 & T8

Figure 2 Control system circuit diagram

Measuring Instruments
Temperatures of water at inlet and exit out of the absorber were measured using two
calibrated K-type thermocouples probes. The water flow rate was measured using a
variable area flow meter which was put down stream of the pump.
An Eppley pyranometer was used in measuring the solar radiation intensity.
Pyranometer is the most frequently used sensor for measuring global or diffuse
radiation. The solar radiation intensity used in the current work is the beam radiation.
Thus, the pyranometer was used first to measure the total radiation flux, and then the
sun was obscured using small piece of opaque paper so that the pyranomter
measurement was for the diffused radiation flux. Both fluxes were measured on a
surface parallel to the aperture of the PT reflector. The beam solar radiation flux results
from subtracting diffused radiation flux from the total radiation flux.

(1)

(2)
(3)
(4)

Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the experimental setup

(1) PTC with tracking system; (2) Storage tank; (3) Pump; (4) Throttle valve
The constructed collector was tested outdoors on the roof of the mechanical engineering
department during the months of December 2005 and May 2006 as representation for
winter and summer weather, respectively. The following parameters were measured:
-Water inlet temperature to the absorber Ti; Water outlet temperature from the absorber
Te
- Water mass flow rate mw; Intensity of solar radiation qs; Ambient temperature Tamb

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 Figure 4 PTC setup
The solar collector efficiency is estimated by:
⎡ (Te − Ti ).mw .cw ⎤
ηC = ⎢ ⎥ (1)
⎣ q s .A ⎦
Where cw is the water specific heat capacity and A is the aperture area.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The experiments were carried out for the constructed parabolic trough collector every
day from nearly 12:00 O’clock to almost sunset during December 2005 and May 2006
for different flow rates and different inlet water temperatures. It is to be mentioned here
that the weather condition is nearly symmetric about the solar noon. Therefore the
measured parameters were recorded from 12:00 O’clock to sunset to avoid repetition.
The results obtained for different days are almost similar for winter days and summer
days.
A sample of the results obtained in winter is listed in Table 2 for water mass flow rate of
0.125 kg/s on 8th of December. This table shows that the solar pattern has its highest
value of 812 W/m2 at 12:15 hr. It decreases with time almost according to a sine
function.
The calculated collector efficiency is plotted in Figure 5 against the local time from
12:00 to 17:00 hrs for water mean flow rate of 0.083, 0.125 and 0.166, respectively.
This figure shows clearly that the collector efficiency increases with rising water mass
flow rate, which is mainly ascribed to the improvement in heat transfer from the
absorber wall to the water flowing inside it due to the increase in water velocity
(Reynolds Number). The highest values of collector efficiency are attained at the
highest intensity of solar radiation.
Samples of the results obtained in summer are listed in Tables 3. These results were
obtained on 15th of May 2006 for water mass flow rate of 0.125 kg/s. It is to be noticed
from these results that the solar radiation and ambient temperature is significantly
higher than those of the winter days. Hence the increase in the water temperature is
remarkably higher. Also, the collector efficiency is improved in summer which is
mainly attributed to the less thermal loss (convection and radiation) due to the higher
ambient temperature.
The calculated efficiency is plotted in Figure 6 versus the local time from 12:00 to
17:00 hrs for water mass flow rate of 0.083, 0.125 and 0.166 kg/s. It is noticeable from

Proceedings of the 7th Saudi Engineering Conference (SEC7)

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this figure that the collector efficiency is improved as the water mass flow rate increases
due to the improvement in heat transfer due to the rising flow velocity; this is in
agreement with the winter results.
The performance model of the constructed tested parabolic trough collector in the
present work has been predicted based on the measured data collected during months
December 2005 and May 2006. It is to be noticed that only the measures obtained
during clear weather close to solar noon were considered as prescribed by ASHREA
[17]. This model is exhibited in Figure 7 where the collector efficiency ηC is plotted
versus (Tav – Tamb)/qs for many measures and the best fitted curve is obtained which is
shown as a solid line. The average water temperature Tav is given by:
T + Te
Tav = i (2)
2

Table 2 Measured data for water mass flow rate mw of 0.125 kg/s, on 8/12/2005
Time (hr) Ti (oC) Te (oC) Δ T (oC) Tamb (oC) qs (W/m2) ηc (%)
12:00 23 26 3 15 840.2 34.88
12:15 23 26.7 3.7 15 812.55 44.49
12:30 23 27.2 4.2 15 802.6 51.12
12:45 24.5 28.2 3.7 15.5 755.1 47.87
13:00 25 28.4 3.4 15.5 743.47 44.68
13:15 25.7 28.6 2.9 15.5 733.51 38.63
13:30 27.1 28.8 1.7 16 678.1 24.49
13:45 27.5 29 1.5 16 654.1 22.40
14:00 27.8 29 1.2 16 552.1 21.23
14:15 28.6 29.7 1.1 16 520.6 20.64
14:30 29 30 1 16 476.31 20.51
14:45 29.9 30.8 0.9 16 439.1 20.02
15:00 30.1 31.8 0.7 16 359.89 19.00
15:15 30.4 31 0.6 16 315.61 18.57
15:30 31 31.4 0.4 16 263.4 14.84
15:45 31 31.3 0.3 16 167.03 17.55
16:00 31 31.2 0.2 16 102.48 19.07
16:15 35.9 36.1 0.2 18 88.5 22.08
16:30 35.9 36 0.1 18 53.6 18.23
16:45 35.9 36 .0.1 18 36.8 20.50
17:00 31 31.1 0.1 18 21.2 46.08
70

60
Collector eff iciency η C (%)

50

40

30

20

10
12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00
Local time (hr)

Figure 5 Efficiency of PTC versus local time in winter season

ƒ mw = 0.083 kg/s • mw = 0.125 kg/s ∆ mw = 0.166 kg/s

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 Table 3 Measured data foro water masso flow rate m w of 0.125 kg/s, 5/5/2006
Time (hr) o
Ti ( C) o 2
Te ( C) Δ T ( C) Tamb ( C) qs (W/m ) ηc (%)
12:00 36.6 40.9 4.3 40.13 864.0 45.6
12:15 35.8 40.3 4.5 40.68 835.0 49.4
12:30 36.3 42.0 5.7 40.89 864.0 60.4
12:45 38.2 43.7 5.5 40.54 853.0 59
13:00 39.4 44.6 5.2 40.25 873.0 54.5
13:15 39.1 44.6 5.5 41.08 857.0 58.8
13:30 40.2 45.8 5.6 44.28 858.0 59.8
13:45 41.5 45.5 4.0 42.69 627.0 48.2
14:00 43.2 47.3 4.1 42.62 842.0 44.6
14:15 42.5 46.6 4.1 42.90 835.0 44.9
14:30 41.7 46.1 4.4 41.87 701.0 57.5
14:45 44.4 48.3 3.9 42.51 834.0 42.8
15:00 44.1 46.4 2.3 41.12 403.0 52.3
15:15 46.5 50.0 3.5 41.89 628.0 51
15:30 45.8 49.0 3.2 42.00 602.0 48.7
15:45 47.4 49.7 2.3 41.08 478.0 44.1
16:00 47.0 49.0 2.0 41.30 459.0 50
16:15 47.5 49.3 1.8 40.83 338.0 48
16:30 47.4 49.4 2.0 40.98 495.0 37
16:45 47.8 49.2 1.4 40.53 381.0 36.4
17:00 48.5 49.2 0.7 39.76 200.0 32.1

65

60
Collector efficiency η C (%)

55

50

45

40

35

30
12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00
Local time (hr)

Figure 6 Efficiency of PTC versus local time in summer season

ƒ mw = 0.083 kg/s • mw = 0.125 kg/s ∆ mw = 0.166 kg/s

For comparison, the performance curve of a typical parabolic trough collector [17] is
shown as dotted line. It is to be seen from Figure 7 that the performance curve of the
tested collector is greatly lower than that of typical collector which can be ascribed to
the higher thermal losses for the lack of the evacuated glass envelope around the
absorbing tube, the end losses of the collector, and the inaccuracy in tracking the sun.

CONCLUDING REMARKS
In the current work a parabolic trough collector (PTC) along with its sun tracking
system have been designed, manufactured and tested. From this study it can be inferred
that:

Proceedings of the 7th Saudi Engineering Conference (SEC7)

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 1. The performance of PTC obtained by testing the manufactured PTC, as the first
attempt, based on the local available technologies and raw materials in Saudi
Arabia is to a great extent less than that of the international standard.
2. It is expected to reach better performance by improving the design and
manufacturing processes, e.g. adding glass envelope to the collector receiver to
reduce thermal losses, and manufacturing special components tailored for the
collector such as gear box, parabola glass mirrors and electronic circuits specially
manufactured for the purpose of fabricating the parabolic collectors on a
commercial basis.

100
90
Collector efficiency η C (% )

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14

(T av -T amb )/q s

Figure 7 Performance model of the constructed collector

_____
Performance model of a typical PTC [17]
_______
Best fit for the Performance model of the tested PTC
▲ Experimental data

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the Deanship of Scientific Research
of King Saud University for the financial support of this work through the grant number
DSR-AR-37. Thanks are also due to Dr. Obeida Zeitoun for his useful discussions and
assistance in collecting the experimental data.

REFERENCES
1. Duffie J.A, Beckman W A., 1991, Solar engineering of thermal processes, 2nd ed.
New York: John Wiley & Sons.
2. Garcia-Rodriguez, L., Gomez-Camacho, C., 1999a, Design Parameter Selection
for a Distillation System Coupled to a Solar Parabolic Trough Collector,
Desalination, 122, 2-3: 195-204
3. Kalogirou S, Eleftheriou P, Lloyd S, Ward J., 994, “Design and performance
characteristics of a parabolic trough solar-collector system”, Applied Energy 1;
47:341-354.
4. Kalogirou S. , 1996, “Parabolic-trough collector system for low temperature steam
generation-design and performance characteristics”, Applied Energy; 55:1-19.
5. G. Cohen, , 1993, "Operation and Efficiency of Large-Scale Solar Thermal Power
Plants", In Proceedings of Optical Materials Technology for Energy Efficiency

Proceedings of the 7th Saudi Engineering Conference (SEC7)

9
 and Solar Energy Conversion, SPIE, Vol. 2017, 332-337.
6. G. Cohen and D. Kearney, , 1994, "Improved Parabolic Trough Solar Electric
System Based on the SEGS Experience", In Proceeding of the ASES Annual
Conference. SOLAR 94, 147-150.
7. Dagan E., Müller M. and Lippke F., 1992, Direct Steam Generation in the
Parabolic Trough Collector, Report of Platafoma Solar de Almeria, Madrid.
8. Lippke F., , 1996, "Direct Steam Generation in the Parabolic Trough Solar Power
Plants - Numerical Investigation of the Transient and the Control of a Once-
Through System", J of Solar Energy Eng. 118, 9-14.
9. Zarza, E., Valenzuela, L., Leon, J., Hennecke, K., Eck, M., Weyers, D., Eickhoff,
M., 2004, Direct Steam Generation in Parabolic Troughs: Final Results and
Conclusions of the DISS Project, Energy, 29, 5-6: 635-644.
10. Zarza, E., Valenzuela, L., Leon, J., Weyers, D., Eickhoff, M., Eck, M., 2002, The
DISS Project: Direct Steam Generation in Parabolic Trough Systems. Operation
and Maintenance Experience and Up date on Project Status, Journal of Solar
Energy Engineering, 124, 2: 126-133.
11. M. Eck and W.-D. Steinmann, 2003, Direct solar steam generation in parabolic
troughs: first results of the DISS project, J. Solar Energy Eng. 124: 134–139.
12. Lippke F., 1996, "Direct Steam Generation in the Parabolic Trough Solar Power
Plants - Numerical Investigation of the Transient and the Control of a Once-
Through System", J of Solar Energy Eng. 118, 9-14.
13. Kalogeria S., Eieftheriou P., Lloyd S. and Ward J., 1995, "Optimization of the
Initial Response of a Solar Steam Generation Plant", In Proceeding of ASME.
Solar Engineering, Vol. I, Hawaii, 513-319.
14. Kalogirou S„ Lloyd S. and Ward J., 1997, "Modeling, Optimization and
Performance Evaluation of a Parabolic Solar Collector Steam Generation System",
Solar Energy 60, 49-59.
15. Tsagas N. F., Seftelis I. V., Ioannidis I. N., 1992, "Thermal Performance of a
Solar Photo-Thermal Electric Energy System", Proceedings of 4th National
Conference on Renewable Energy Sources", Greece, Xanthi, 166-171.
16. Hegazy A.S., , 1995, "Thermal Performance of a Parabolic Trough Collector
with Longitudinal Externally Finned Absorber", Heat and Mass Transfer,
Vol. 31, 2, Springer Verlag, 95-103.
17. ASHRAE Standard 93-77, , 1977, “Methods of Testing to Determine the Thermal
Performance of Solar Collectors “, American Society of Heating, Refrigeration,
and Air Conditioning Engineers, New York.

APPENDIX A

FINITE ELEMENT MODELING OF THE

PARAPOLIC TROUGH COLLECTOR

Finite element methods are among the powerful scientific tools which can be used to
study in detail the deformation of the trough collector under static weight and various
wind-loads, as well as to obtain the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the collector
system. In this Appendix the specially designed parabolic trough collector is modeled
using ANSYS Multiphysics Module version 6.

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A.1 PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTOR MODEL

The procedure for analysis consists of three main steps:

1. Building the model- preprocessing stage
This is accomplished by defining the element types and real constants; specifying
material properties; and defining the model geometry. A shell element is used to model
the collector surface which is made of stainless steel plate with 0.7 mm thickness and
the shape of the parabola satisfying the form y= 0.38 x2 . The supporting structure of the
collector reflective surface is made of simple steel frames (cantilever arms), with the
beam elements being used to model the different parts making up the supporting
structure. The two balancing weights are also included in the model. A hollow circular
cross-section steel beam is used to hold the supporting frame and acts as axis of rotation
for the collector, Fig. A.1
2. Applying loads and boundary conditions
At this stage the loads and boundary conditions that represent the physical system are
applied by performing the two tasks: defining the loads, and defining the boundary
conditions. In the static case, the wind speed was transferred to wind pressure acting on
the surface.
3. Reviewing of the results
The list of the results can be viewed from the General Postproc in the Main Menu.

Figure A.1 FEM 3D viewing

A.2 RESULTS
Several test positions for the trough were run (a sample is given in Figure A.2). Table
A.1 summarizes the maximum normal, principal and shear stresses obtained by
subjecting the parabolic trough collector to an air flow traveling at a velocity of 30
km/h. It is clear that the structure is strong enough and can withstand similar loading
conditions.
Figure A.3 illustrates the first mode shape together with its corresponding natural
frequency. It should be pointed here that the developed finite element model using
ANSYS can be expanded to include any more modules of the trough collector so that it
can be used in the design of a more complicated trough collector.

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 Wind direction

Figure A.2 Horizontal 45o tilted Figure A.3 First mode shape with ω1 = 10.3 Hz

Table A.1 Stresses and displacements caused by 30 km/h wind load

(1) Summary of Bending and shearing stresses
Testing Situation Principal (Pal) Component (Pascal) Shear (Pascal)

Top direction S1 = 0.38477E+07 SZ = 0.38259E+07 SXY = 0.16057E+07

Horizontal direction S1 =0.40928E+07 SZ =0.37958E+07 SXY =0.16357E+07
Horizontal-45°-Tilted direction (Right) S1 = 0.38477E+07 SZ = 0.38259E+07 SXY =0.16057E+07
Horizontal-45°-Tilted direction (Left) S1 = 0.38477E+07 SZ = 0.38259E+07 SXY =0.16057E+07
Horizontal (3bearings fixed points ) S1 =0.40928E+07 SZ =0.37958E+07 SXY =0.16357E+07
direction
Front (Side) direction S1 =0.38477E+07 SZ = 0.38259E+07 SXY =0.16057E+07
(2) Summary of Translational and Rotational Displacement
Testing Situation Translational Displacement Rotational DisplacementmRad
mm
Top direction UZ= 0.41906 ROTY = 0.27110
Horizontal direction UZ= 0.41906
Horizontal-45°-Tilted direction (Right) UZ= 0.41906 ROTY = 0.27110
Horizontal-45°-Tilted direction (Left) UZ= 0.41906 ROTY = 0.27110
Horizontal (3bearings fixed points ) direction UZ = 0.53488 ROTY= 0.27294
Front (Side) direction UZ = 0.41906 ROTY = 0.27110
(1) Summary of Bending and shearing stresses
Testing Situation Principal (Pascal) Component (Pascal) Shear (Pascal)

Top direction S1 = 0.38477E+07 SZ = 0.38259E+07 SXY = 0.16057E+07

Horizontal direction S1 =0.40928E+07 SZ =0.37958E+07 SXY =0.16357E+07
Horizontal-45°-Tilted direction (Right) S1 = 0.38477E+07 SZ = 0.38259E+07 SXY =0.16057E+07
Horizontal-45°-Tilted direction (Left) S1 = 0.38477E+07 SZ = 0.38259E+07 SXY =0.16057E+07
Horizontal (3bearings fixed points ) S1 =0.40928E+07 SZ =0.37958E+07 SXY =0.16357E+07
direction
Front (Side) direction S1 =0.38477E+07 SZ = 0.38259E+07 SXY =0.16057E+07
(2) Summary of Translational and Rotational Displacement
Testing Situation Translational Rotational Displacement mRad
Displacement mm
Top direction UZ= 0.41906 ROTY = 0.27110
Horizontal direction UZ= 0.41906
Horizontal-45°-Tilted direction (Right) UZ= 0.41906 ROTY = 0.27110
Horizontal-45°-Tilted direction (Left) UZ= 0.41906 ROTY = 0.27110
Horizontal (3bearings fixed points ) direction UZ = 0.53488 ROTY= 0.27294
Front (Side) direction UZ = 0.41906 ROTY = 0.27110

Proceedings of the 7th Saudi Engineering Conference (SEC7)

12
 ‫الملخص العربي‪:‬‬

‫تصميم واختبار مجمع شمسي على شكل قطع مكافئ مع جھاز التوجيه الشمسي لتحلية الماء في‬
‫األماكن القاحله في المملكه العربيه السعوديه‬

‫يعني ھذا البحث بدراسه عمليه لمجم ع شم سي عل ى ش كل قط ع مك افئ وجھ از التوجي ه الشم سي ت م‬
‫ت صميمھم وت صنيعھم ب ستخدام التقني ات ال سعوديه والم واد المتاح ه محلي ا ‪ .‬ألت صميم إط ار المجم ع‬
‫الشمسي تم تطوير نموذج رياضي باستخدام العناصر المتناھية الصغر وذلك إلس تخدامه ف ي إختب ار‬
‫مق درة المن شأ إلمت صاص ق وى الل ي والثن ي تح ت األحم ال الثابت ه وأحم ال الري اح ‪ .‬وت م ت صنيع‬
‫المجمع الشمسي ف ى ال ورش المحلي ه ‪ ,‬وت م تجمي ه جھ از التوجي ه الشم سي م ن العناص ر الكھربائي ه‬
‫واإللكتروني ه المت وفره ف ي ال سوق ال سعودي ‪ ,‬ولك ن العناص ر الميكانيكي ه ت م ت دبيرھا م ن ال سوق‬
‫السعودي للمواد المستعمله ‪.‬‬
‫تم إختبار المجمع وجھاز التوجيه الشمسي المصنعان على س طح ق سم الھندس ه الميكانيكي ه – جامع ة‬
‫الملك سعود بالرياض في الظروف الجويه الخارجيه ‪ .‬وقد أوضحت النتائج العمليه لھذا اإلختب ار أن‬
‫منحنى األداء للمجمع منخفضا إنخفاضا ملحوظا ع ن منحن ى أداء المجم ع النم وذجي المماث ل وال ذي‬
‫يع زو إل ى الفواق د الحراري ه المرتفع ه ن سبيا نظ را لع دم وج ود الغ الف الزج اجي المف رغ ‪ ,‬وللفواق د‬
‫الحراريه عند األطراف وكذلك إلفتقاد الدقه العالي ه ف ي التوجي ه ‪ .‬وب الرغم م ن ذل ك فكف اءة المجم ع‬
‫كانت حوالي ‪ %40‬في المتوسط وھي مقبولة باعتبار أن ھذه ھي المحاوله األولى لت صنيع مث ل ھ ذا‬
‫المجمع محليا ‪.‬‬

‫)‪Proceedings of the 7th Saudi Engineering Conference (SEC7‬‬

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