Future Parabolic Trough Collector Absorber Coating Development and Service Lifetime Estimation

This work presents a study on the optical and mechanical degradation of parabolic trough collector absorber coatings produced through the spray coating application technique of in-house developed paint. The main aim of this investigation is to prepare, cure, load, and analyze the absorber coating on the substrate under conditions that mimic the on-field thermal properties. This research incorporates predicted isothermal and cyclic loads for parabolic trough systems as stresses. Biweekly inspections of loaded, identical samples monitored the degradation process. We further used the cascade of data from optical, oxide-thickening, crack length, and pull-off force measurements in mathematical modelling to predict the service life of the parabolic trough collector. The results collected and used in modelling suggested that cyclic load in combination with iso-thermal load is responsible for coating fatigue, influencing the solar absorber optical values and resulting in lower energy transformation efficiency. Finally, easy-to-apply coatings made out of spinel-structured black pigment and durable binder could serve as a low-cost absorber coating replacement for a new generation of parabolic trough collectors, making it possible to harvest solar energy to provide medium-temperature heat to decarbonize future food, tobacco, and paint production industrial processes.