Validation and Numerical Simulation of a Parabolic Trough Solar Collector Plant Using an Implicit Finite-Difference Scheme

The evolving energy landscape demands reliable integration of renewable resources to ensure security, sustainability, and reduced carbon emissions. Then, a high level of understanding about the behavior of the renewable energy sources, the technologies, and their interaction is needed. Particularly, parabolic trough collector (PTC) solar plants can positively affect power systems due to their dispatchability. Since PTC harvests direct normal irradiance (DNI), complex dynamic models are required to understand how PTC behaves. This work uses a 1-D dynamic model that captures the dynamic behavior of PTC plants and is solved numerically via a three-point backward finite-difference. Through two case studies, this research highlights the dynamic behavior and performance of the PTC rows and total solar fields. The row response to varying DNI is showcased in the first case study. The model predicts heat transfer fluid (HTF) temperature profiles in 0.7 s, paving the way for effective control strategies to prevent overheating. The second case study extends the analysis to disturbances caused by clouds and shadows, reaffirming the model’s robustness. With a computation time of 2.7 s for temperature profiles over a day, the model offers both accuracy and computational efficiency for real-time applications.