Performance studies on solar parabolic dish collector using conical cavity receiver for community heating applications

Abstract The Solar Parabolic Dish Collector (SPDC) is considered as a significance part in solar thermal energy conversion process in high temperature applications. This prime work focuses on the enhancement of performance characteristics of solar dish collector, coupled with conical cavity receiver. The design of SPDC utilizes segments of mirror finished stainless steel leaflets. The higher thermal efficiency is accomplished by employing the conical receiver design. It is demonstrated that the average collector efficiency of solar dish collector is in the range of 45% to 62%, for the various design and operating conditions. The heat transfer characteristics and thermal performance of the parabolic dish collector were studied. The outcomes of these experimentation are to be exploited for the appropriate assessments of the SPDC on a regular basis.