Parametric analysis of the curved slats fixed mirror solar concentrator for medium temperature applications

• We thermally modeled the Curved Slats Fixed Mirror Solar Concentrator (CSFMSC).
• A parametric analysis for three climates and two axial orientations are given.
• The optimum values are determined for a range of the design parameters.
• The CSFMSC has been well characterized for medium range temperature operation.

The Curved Slats Fixed Mirror Solar Concentrator (CSFMSC) is a solar concentrator with a static reflector and a moving receiver. An optical analysis using ray-tracing tools was presented in a previous study in function of three design parameters: the number of mirrors N, the ratio of focal length and reflector width F/W, and the aperture concentration Ca. However, less is known about the thermal behavior of this geometry. In this communication, the integrated thermal output of the CSFMSC has been determined in order to find the optimal values for the design parameters at a working temperature of 200 °C. The results were obtained for three different climates and two axial orientations (North–South, and East–West). The results show that CSFMSC can produce heat at 200 °C with an annual thermal efficiency of 41, 47, and 51%, dependent of the location considered (Munich, Palma de Mallorca, and Cairo). The best FMSC geometries in function of the design parameters are exhibited for medium temperature applications.