Feasibility Study of a Novel One-Axis Sun Tracking System with Reflector Displacement in a Parabolic Trough Concentrator

The size of parabolic trough concentrators limits the mechanical sun tracking system’s solution. Generally, concentrating collectors use only one-axis or two-axis sun tracking; the sun’s position changes hourly; hence, the solar collector should be continuously adjusted in order to produce the maximum power. Single-axis tracking systems are considerably cheaper and easier to construct, but their efficiency is lower than that of the two-axis tracking systems. In this paper, we present a study that confirms the feasibility of a novel one-axis sun tracking system with reflector displacement in order to minimize the optical losses caused by the cosine effect in the small parabolic trough concentrators. Optical and thermal simulations are performed to prove the efficiency of the novel system by comparison between the two cases, with reflector displacement and the ordinary system—the results are very interesting. We have proposed a novel sun tracking system with a good annual efficiency.