Dynamic Analysis of Direct Steam Generating Parabolic Trough Collector System

Abstract

Conventional desalination technologies like multi stage flashing, multi-effect desalination (MED) using steam as motive fluid can be made sustainable by obtaining the motive steam from solar thermal systems. In this study, a transient simulation has been performed to determine the dissimilitude in pressure drop and dryness fraction, of working fluid in absorber tube due to variation in solar irradiance. A one-dimensional (1D) mathematical model has been developed using matlab for assessing the thermal performance and heat transfer characteristics of a direct steam generating (DSG) parabolic trough collector (PTC) system. It was observed that maximum pressure drop does not occur at maximum quality indicating the working conditions impair the system performance. The developed model was used to overcome this by varying both pressure and mass flowrate of working fluid in accordance to the radiation, results indicated reduction in pressure drop during the same time period for the same exit quality.