A review study on the advancement in structural design of solar parabolic trough collector

Due to its accessibility, ease of use, and low cost, solar energy, among other types of renewable energy sources, is important. The concentrating solar collectors has prove to be very promising method for harnessing the solar energy into heat and other usable form. The parabolic trough collectors having movable parts and large structure among mid temperature range collectors working between 100-400 degree celsius faces structrual instability as a problem. The wind load, thermal stresses and pressure difference craeted by fluid flowing inside receiver tube are the factors causing these insatbility. Due to this insatbility the accuracy required to direct the solar radiation on the receiver tube gets affected which ultimately reduces the overall thermal effeciency along with optical performance of PTC. The present study is focused on study of literature work carried out on structural stability and the steps taken for the advancement of its perforamnce to improve the effciency of PTC.