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In order to achieve high optical efficiency of solar parabolic trough collectors and high performance of the solar field, the concentrator mirrors in concentrating solar power plants are expected to maintain accurate parabolic shape over the daily operation cycles. In addition to shape imperfections introduced by the manufacturing process, deformation due to gravity load and mounting forces is an inevitable factor affecting shape accuracy in all types of parabolic trough collectors. In this paper the effect of gravity load on mirror shape and resulting slope and focus deviation values is characterized and quantified in finite element analyses referenced to specific lab tests. Inner and outer ideally shaped parabolic mirror of RP3 geometry are evaluated for various discrete collector angles relevant for operation on different collector support structures. Three finite-element-models are included in the study: two with idealized support structures (ideal and elastic case) and one including the cantilever arms as relevant parts of the EuroTrough type collector support structure (cantilever case). Constructional design and stiffness of the support structure significantly determine characteristic and magnitude of deformation. Resulting rms values of the sagged mirror panels are as high as SDx = 1.7 mrad and FDx = 6.3 mm (inner mirror, elastic case) and SDx = 1.1 mrad and FDx = 5.6 mm (outer mirror, cantilever case). Depending on the type of support structure, minimum and maximum values occur at different collector angles. Rms slope and focus deviation values are closer to the 0° (zenith) collector angle case than to the non-deformed (ideal) mirror shape. This leads to optimizing the mirror shape for 0° (zenith) collector angle. Different support structures in design and stiffness for shape accuracy assessment in laboratory and those used in the collector make it difficult to find one optimum shape for all types of mirror and collector.

This paper describes a new2 nd generation linear focus solar simulator test bench. The test bench is used for the non-destructive calorimetric measurement of relative optical efficiency of parabolic trough receivers. Compared to the predecessor, the test bench has been optimized for faster measurement, better long term stability and easier operation. The test bench optics is an elliptical shaped glass mirror trough with flat end mirrors. The receiver and six solar simulator lamps, metal halide lamps with 2.5 kWeeach are located in their respective focal lines. Absorbed power is measured via temperature increase of the water flowing through the receiver and the mass flow rate. By comparison to the absorbed power of a reference receiver, the optical efficiency of a sample can be determined relative to the optical efficiency of the reference receiver.

Shape accuracy of mirror panels for parabolic trough solar collectors has a significant impact on the optical performance of the collectors in a solar power plant and is therefore carefully assessed by test laboratories and manufacturers. Relevant deformation is induced by gravity or mounting forces, so that shape accuracy data measured in different setups cannot be compared. This paper presents a method for conversion of shape measured in a vertical laboratory setup into data for a horizontal laboratory setup. Characteristic deformation matrices for parabolic trough mirror panels of RP3 geometry are determined by deflectometric shape measurements on various mirror panels and by validated finite element analyses (FEA). The resulting root mean square (rms) of measured slope deviation difference (i.e. the gravity induced deformation) between vertical and horizontal setup is on average 2.4 mrad for inner mirrors and 1.25 mrad for outer mirrors loosely positioned on a frame. Measured data from vertical setup, transformed by such characteristic deformation matrices into horizontal shape results, differ by less than 0.2 mrad in rms slope deviation value from data measured in horizontal setup. Whereas the presented approach to convert shape accuracy measurement results is suitable for the calculation of rms values, some of the analyzed mirror samples show differences in local slope deviation values larger than the deflectometric measurement uncertainty. The amount of deviation depends on details of the accuracy of the positioning of the mirrors on the measurement frame and is affected by the fixation and associated mounting forces at the pads.