Parabolic Trough Collector Prototypes for Low-temperature Process Heat

This book provides a technical overview of low-cost parabolic trough collector (PTCs) prototypes for low-temperature heat demand. It begins with a comprehensive but concise summary of the state-of-the-art in PTCs, and presents a detailed mathematical model of such systems. Subsequent chapters describe the construction and materials used in the manufacture of PTC prototypes, and offers technical solutions to overcome design problems. Finally, it provides an accessible guide to the standards used to test and evaluate the performance of PTCs. Offering a valuable resource to engineering researchers and practitioners, it is also suitable for students of solar thermal systems, renewable energy and applied physics.

 

Gianluca Coccia is a Ph.D. student of Industrial Engineering at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences of Marche Polytechnic University, Italy. During his Bachelor and Master theses, he studied parabolic trough solar collectors working with two experimental prototypes and developing a mathematical model able to determine the optical and the thermal efficiency of such systems. His doctoral activity includes properties of fluids (thermal conductivity, dynamic viscosity, surface tension, virial coefficients), nanofluids and solar energy systems (parabolic trough collectors and solar cookers). He also studies mathematical models and artificial neural networks applied to the aforementioned topics. He is author of papers published in international journals in the field of solar energy and thermophysical properties of fluids.

Giovanni Di Nicola is associate professor in Environmental Applied Physics at the Faculty of Engineering of the Marche Polytechnic University, Italy. During the last 20 years, he conducted research, both experimental and theoretical, on thermophysical properties with particular attention to environmental friendly refrigerants. He also developed theoretical models for the prediction of surface tension, thermal conductivity, dynamic viscosity and virial coefficients of organic fluids. During the last five years, he turned his attention to the sector of solar thermal energy, in particular studying parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) and solar cookers. He is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Thermophysics, of the Italian Thermophysical Properties Association (AIPT) and of the Commission B1 (thermodynamic and transport properties) of the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR). He is author of over 70 articles in international journals with expert reviewers.

Alejandro Hidalgo studied Industrial Technologies in the University Carlos III of Madrid. He started to work in the field of solar energy thanks to an Erasmus programme in the Marche Polytechnic University, Italy, under the supervision of Prof. Giovanni Di Nicola. During his experience, he worked in experimental projects involving parabolic trough solar collectors and solar cookers.