Semi-empirical correlation to model heat losses along solar parabolic trough collectors

Solar thermal power plants convert sunshine energy into useful heat and electricity by means of solar collectors and a thermodynamic cycle. Among the different solar collector technologies, parabolic troughs are nowadays the most widespread together with solar towers. In order to improve the computation speed required to simulate the temperature profile along solar parabolic trough collectors, a correlation estimating the effective heat losses of the receiver is an essential tool. However, the relations found in the literature lack accuracy and do not translate effectively the effects of the operating conditions in all cases. In this work, an alternative correlation is proposed and calibrated with the results of a deterministic model. Better fitting performance is demonstrated when compared to the prediction of the pre-existing correlations. The benefits and limitations of the new correlation are finally assessed.