Structural Analysis And Optimization Of The Solar Collector In Parabolic Trough Solar Thermal Power Generation System

With the energy shortages, resource consumption and environment pollution becomingincreasingly prominent, developing and using renewable, clean energy is the response to solvethe crisis. Solar energy, the infinite and clear energy, is the main development object of futureenergy. Parabolic trough solar thermal power generation is a main technology for solar powergeneration. However, the development of parabolic trough solar thermal power generationsystem is restricted by low thermal efficiency and high investment cost. Hence, reducing thecost of each component and innovating the key technologies are the urgent problem to besolved in parabolic trough solar thermal power generation.The thesis is supported by High Level Talent Project of Guangdong ProvincialDepartment of Education. The development, operating principle, component, technicalproblem of the parabolic trough solar thermal power generation system was introduced firstly,on this basis, The structure of the solar collector was analysed and optimized, thesolar-collecting efficiency was improved and the weight was reduced to the benefit ofreducing the cost and innovating the tracking system.The structural composition of a solar collector, designed by GuangZhou Institute ofEnergy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Science, was first analysed and modeled. Then thecalculation formula of the wind load on the collector was derived according to the analysis ofthe load. Later, The modal and static characteristics was simulated using the simulationsoftware, the collector’s stress and deformation distribution was got in different operatingangles and the changing relationship of the reflector’s deformation and the support frame’sstress with operating angle was analysed, on this basis, the worst working condition of eachstatic characteristic was confirmed to service for the later structural optimization.Then, the overall optimization scheme of the solar collector was put forward. Theposition of the reflector’s supporting point was optimized and defined. Later, the structure ofthe collector was analysed by using topological theory, the solar collector’s cantilever wasselected to be the optimal object depend on the result of topology analysis. The sectionaldimensions of the cantilever was designed and optimized for manufacturability in the premise of solar-collecting efficiency. The weight was reduced and the collector’s overall performancewas improved after structural optimization.