A simple method for studying the effect of scattering of the performance parameters of Parabolic Trough Collectors on the control of a solar field

•We apply probabilistic methods to generate a more realistic solar field.•Parameter dispersion affects the control of solar field outlet temperature.•Subdivision of solar field counteracts the effect of performance scattering.•Proposed methodology can be extended to more sophisticated models.

This paper develops a novel and simple yet rigorous methodology that, by means of basic techniques and tools available to any engineer, enables the study of the effect of solar concentrator performance parameter scattering on the control of solar field outlet temperature. Several simulations are performed considering a realistic solar field comprised of a large set of solar collectors with slight differences in performance. Sets of scattered parameter distributions are randomly assigned to the collectors in the solar field. Sensitivity analysis of solar field behavior is then performed in terms of the distribution of the performance parameters of the solar collectors, followed by a comparison between different configurations of the solar field according to the number of subfields. The latter is of a great interest in order to evaluate the effect of subfield number on the ability of the solar field’s operator to control the temperature of the solar field when a flow control valve is not available in each loop.