Solar Trough Field System

Abstract

A solar trough field system according to the invention comprises multiple parabolic reflectors; a thermal receiver tube, center of which coincides with the focus of the parabolic reflectors and which consists of a metal heat receiving pipe ( 1 ) and a glass tube ( 2 ) which are nested (the glass tube surrounds the metal heat receiving pipe from outside); a ‘vacuum seal and glass tube connector system’ (E) which connects the glass tubes ( 2 ) and the thermal heat receiving pipe ( 1 ) to each other; a rotating support unit ( 21 ), which connects the parabolic panel to the glass tube connector system (E) and provides the thermal receiver tube ( 1 ) to stay stationary while the parabolic panel is rotating around it; ‘flexible expansion unit’ ( 29 ) located at the end of each parabolic trough unit which provides vacuum seal while the Heat Receiving Pipe ( 1 ) is moving due to heat expansion; and a vertical loop ( 52 ) located at the discharge side of the parabolic unit, which can be used instead of water separator and which also provides the heat expansion of the Heat Receiving Pipe ( 103 ).

1 . A solar trough field system, comprising multiple parabolic reflectors; a thermal receiver tube, center of which coincides with the focus of the parabolic reflectors and which consists of a metal heat receiving pipe ( 1 ) and a glass tube ( 2 ) which are nested, characterized in that to allow the metal heat receiving ( 1 ) pipe to expand and move freely within and independent of the glass tubes ( 2 ), to provide vacuum seal, to provide support for the entire heat receiver element (D), and to provide a continuous vacuum chamber for the full length of the parabolic through unit, a vacuum seal and glass tube connector system (E) connects the glass tubes ( 2 ) and the thermal heat receiving pipe ( 1 ) to each other; in order to provide the thermal receiver tube ( 1 ) to stay stationary while the parabolic panel is rotating around it, a rotating support unit ( 21 ) connects the parabolic panel to the glass tube connector system (E); in order to provide vacuum seal while the heat receiving pipe ( 1 ) is moving due to heat expansion, flexible expansion units ( 29 ) are located at the end of each parabolic trough unit; and in order to prevent the non evaporated remaining water to pass through other collectors and to provide the heat expansion factor for the heat receiving pipe ( 1 ), vertical loops ( 52 ) are placed between successive parabolic troughs connected in series, located at the discharge side of the parabolic unit. 
     
     
         2 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 1  wherein, the vacuum seal and glass tube connector system (E) comprises a ceramic unit ( 7 ) in order to allow the heat receiving pipe ( 1 ) to expand and slide freely over balls ( 11 ) located at the centre of the ceramic unit ( 7 ) and to provide heat insulation between the heat receiving pipe ( 1 ) to be located at it's center and the glass tubes ( 2 ); a silicon unit ( 4 ) in order to provide vacuum seal around the glass tube ( 2 ) and to provide enough flexibility to protect the glass tube ( 2 ) from vibrations and bending forces that may occur on the metal parts; a heat and UV protection unit ( 3 ) in order to provide UV light and heat insulation for the silicon unit ( 4 ); and a stationary metal support unit ( 18 ) to provide the base for all the glass tube connection units. 
     
     
         3 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 2  wherein; the ceramic unit ( 7 ) consists of two hollow cylindrical halves ( 8 ); on one side of each half ( 8 ), there exits a number of ball sockets ( 9 ); balls ( 11 ) are housed in between the two halves of ceramic unit ( 7 ), within these ball sockets ( 9 ), forming a type of “ball bearing”; these two halves ( 8 ) of ceramic unit ( 7 ) are glued together, making sure that the glue does not get close to the balls ( 11 ), after the balls ( 11 ) are placed in between them ( 8 ); in addition to glue, the ceramic halves ( 8 ) are also bolted ( 10 ) together for additional strength. 
     
     
         4 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 3  wherein, said balls ( 11 ) are made up of ceramic. 
     
     
         5 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 2  wherein; the silicon unit ( 4 ) is in the shape of a hollow cylinder, wherein the back face ( 12 ) of this hollow cylinder extends with a larger diameter in order to provide a flange like shape ( 15 ); on the front face ( 13 ) of the silicon unit ( 4 ), there exists a circular groove ( 16 ); the outer lip ( 14 ) of the silicon unit ( 4 ) is kept thin to increase its flexibility. 
     
     
         6 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 2  wherein; the heat and UV protection unit ( 3 ) is a flexible insulator unit, used to slide in and cover the inner face of the silicon unit ( 4 ). 
     
     
         7 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 2  or  claim 5  wherein; the heat and UV protection unit ( 3 ) has a hollow cylindrical shape, the back face ( 17 ) of this hollow cylinder extends with a larger diameter in order to cover the front face ( 13 ) of the silicon unit ( 4 ). 
     
     
         8 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 2 ,  claim 5  or  claim 6  wherein, the heat and UV protection unit ( 3 ) is made up of ceramic wool. 
     
     
         9 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 2  wherein, the base of the metal support unit ( 18 ) is a circular ring, with its outer lips forming a cylindrical u-ring ( 20 ), bolts ( 19 ) to which gaskets, metal rings and silicon pieces will be fitted are welded to the metal piece of this metal support unit ( 18 ) to eliminate nuts inside the u-ring ( 20 ) where there will be alignment wheels and/or alignment balls. 
     
     
         10 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 2  wherein; the rotating support and housing unit ( 21 ) comprises assembly of alignment balls (or wheels) ( 23 ) which provide multi directional guide for this rotating support ( 21 ) and housing unit to glide around the glass tube connection system (E); hinge ( 22 ) to allow the top half of this support unit ( 21 ) to open while the glass tubes ( 2 ) are installed and with the help of this hinge ( 22 ), after the glass tube ( 2 ) installation is completed, the top half of this support unit ( 21 ) is closed and fixed to the bottom half; a connector ( 23 ) to the support leg that is attached to the parabolic trough. 
     
     
         11 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 2  wherein; the entire glass tube connector system (E) is installed as follows; stationary metal support unit ( 18 ) is slid on to the heat receiving pipe ( 1 ), ceramic unit ( 7 ) is slid over the heat receiving pipe ( 1 ) and fitted within the stationary metal support unit ( 18 ), vacuum sealing gaskets ( 25 ) are fit on the bolts ( 19 ) on both side of the metal support unit ( 18 ), metal rings ( 26 ) are fit on the bolts ( 19 ) on both side of the metal support unit ( 18 ), glass tubes ( 2 ) previously fitted into silicone units ( 4 ) are slid in to position from both sides, metal rings ( 27 ) are slid on the silicon unit ( 4 ) to press on it to provide vacuum seal, the entire unit is tightened up with bolts ( 28 ), whole assembly is set on the bottom half ( 6 ) of the rotating support and housing unit ( 21 ), the top half ( 5 ) of the rotating support and housing unit ( 21 ) is lowered and tightened up. 
     
     
         12 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 10  wherein; after the last glass tube glass tube connector system (E) is placed, the flexible expansion unit ( 29 ) is attached to the support unit ( 18 ) same as if another glass tube ( 2 ) assembly is being fit on. 
     
     
         13 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 1  wherein; connection of the expansion unit ( 29 ) to the heat receiving pipe ( 1 ) comprises the following steps: screwed nipples ( 32 ) are welded to the pipes ( 1 ); screwed flanges ( 33 ) are fitted on to the screwed nipples ( 32 ); flexible rings ( 34 ) are trapped in between the inner lips of the flanges ( 33 ) and the wall thickness of the screwed nipples, a silicone ring ( 35 ) is fitted over the flange ( 33 ), a gasket ( 36 ) is used to provide vacuum seal, metal rings ( 37 ) are used to tighten the flexible gaskets ( 36 ), bolts ( 38 ) are tightened to fix the entire assembly. 
     
     
         14 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 1  wherein; after the last glass tube ( 2 ) and expansion unit ( 48 ) of the previous parabolic trough, the heat receiving pipe ( 1 ) passes trough the sliding anchor ( 49 ) and after forming a vertical loop ( 52 ) it reaches the fixed anchor ( 50 ) located at the inlet side of the next parabolic trough. 
     
     
         15 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 1  wherein, the system also includes a 2 m high wind breaker ( 53 ) to surround the solar trough field to deflect the wind ( 55 ) above the parabolic troughs ( 54 ). 
     
     
         16 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 1  wherein, an additional glass tube ( 58 ) is assembled at the discharge side of the system. 
     
     
         17 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 1  wherein, in order to allow the easy movement parabolic reflectors ( 62 ) and good resistance against wind loads, the system comprises a rotating structure ( 61 ) that is rested on many wheels ( 66 ) positioned on a half circular stationary structure ( 65 ). 
     
     
         18 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 16  wherein, the rotating structure ( 61 ) is supporting the parabolic mirror panel ( 62 ), by pulling the ropes ( 64 ) which ropes ( 64 ) are pulled by a central motor with adjustable speed. 
     
     
         19 . A solar trough field system according to  claim 17  wherein, the speed of the central motor is adjusted by solar sensors.