Optimal Choice in Number and Position of Reflectors on a V-Trough Solar Concentrator

Abstract

This paper compared reflectors on the four sides of a solar flat plate collector (top, bottom, right, and left, which have the same dimensions as the collector); and searched for which one reflects the optimum amount of solar irradiation on the receiver surface throughout the year in Ouargla city, in the south of Algeria. In addition, the best combination between them (two by two) was investigated in order to achieve the optimal design of the V-Trough solar concentrator. The findings showed that in the single reflector case, the top and the right sides were the best, with an average increase of 17.53% in captured sunlight compared to the conventional one. On the other hand, in the case of two reflectors, the best combination was top-right sides, with an average solar-gain increase of about 35.06%.