Finite Element Model and Design of Effective Focal Panel and Receiver Tube for Solar Steam Producer

Solar energy is an excellent alternative to replace conventional energy sources. Here solar energy is converted to electrical energy using a parabolic trough and a turbine. Incident rays of solar radiation falling on the trough get reflected and concentrated on the focal length of the parabolic collector. The receiver tube is placed on this axis. The thermal fluid is made to pass inside the tube (water). The concentration of solar energy on this tube raises the temperature of water converting it to steam. Steam is made to pass through a nozzle increasing its kinetic energy. It passes to the blades of an impulse turbine where the rotor rotates, and the shaft produces mechanical energy. The turbine is connected to a generator which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, producing power. Thermal and structural stresses are determined using FEA software Ansys Workbench for the selection of appropriate sheet and tube material.