Concentrating Collectors


Concentrating collectors are devices that focus sunlight onto a small area, increasing the intensity of the solar radiation. They are used in solar power systems to generate electricity or heat. Concentrating collectors can be classified into four types: parabolic troughs, dish/engine systems, power towers, and linear Fresnel reflectors. Parabolic troughs are long, curved mirrors that focus sunlight onto a tube that runs down the center of the trough. Dish/engine systems use a parabolic dish to focus sunlight onto a receiver that heats a fluid, which is then used to generate electricity. Power towers use a field of mirrors to focus sunlight onto a central tower, where a receiver collects the heat and uses it to generate electricity. Linear Fresnel reflectors use long, flat mirrors to focus sunlight onto a receiver that runs along the length of the mirrors.


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