Field measurements of boundary layer wind characteristics and wind loads of a parabolic trough solar collector

The focus of the current study is the wind loads on a 11.92 m section of parabolic trough collector with an aperture of 5.76 m, located in Beijing, PR China. This paper presents selected results of full-scale field measurements of wind loads and wind pressure on the solar collector. The field data such as wind speed, wind direction and wind pressures are simultaneously measured from the solar collector. The measured data are analyzed to obtain the information on boundary layer wind characteristics, wind pressures and wind loads on the solar collector. The results presented in this paper are expected to be of considerable interest and of use to researchers and engineers involved in analysis and design of parabolic trough solar collectors.

► Wind characteristics of the array field were analyzed, including turbulence intensities, gust factors and wind speed profile. ► Mean and peak values of drag and lift coefficients were analyzed as a function of pitch angles, by field measurements. ► Wind pressure distribution on mirror surfaces were obtained, including 12 pitch configurations, by field measurements.