Use of Parabolic Trough Collector as Direct Vapor Generator for an Absorption Machine: Experimental Study

摘要

Parabolic concentrating solar collectors PTCs represent an alternative to fossil fuel as a medium temperature heat source for a variety of applications, either in medium and small scale facilities. This work presents an innovative solution using PTCs for driving an absorption machine AM. In the novel layout proposed, the working pair of the AM circulates into the solar receiver tube, allowing refrigerant evaporation without the need of a heat transfer fluid HTF, neither a heat exchanger HX. An experimental installation has been developed and tested using Ammonia/Lithium Nitrate as the AM working pair. The preliminary results reported confirm the feasibility of the direct refrigerant vapor generation inside a PTC, encouraging further investigation to lower complexity and cost.