Parabolic Troughs
Parabolic troughs are a type of solar thermal technology used to generate electricity. They consist of long, curved mirrors that focus sunlight onto a receiver tube located at the focal point of the parabola. The receiver tube contains a heat transfer fluid, which absorbs the concentrated sunlight and heats up. The heated fluid is then used to generate steam, which drives a turbine to produce electricity. Parabolic troughs are typically arranged in long rows, and can be rotated to track the sun throughout the day to maximize energy production. They are a mature technology, with the first commercial parabolic trough power plant built in California in the 1980s.
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