Three-Dimensional Simulation of Air Flow around Collectors to Obtain Aerodynamic Coefficients and the Collectors Dynamic Loads

Fossil fuels are going to either be gone or they are going to become too expensive to realistically use. This issue along with the air pollution caused by these kinds of fuels provides specific concentrations for renewable energies. Most of the common methods for electricity generation by use of solar energy are not economic. However, among the methods, solar plants equipped with parabolic collectors are more acceptable. A parabolic trough collector (PTC) is a system in which reflective parts (like mirror or aluminum plates) are installed in parabolic form upon steel bases. Parallel arrays of such collectors are commonly installed subsequently in vast open fields to form a power plant, called solar farm. These power plants are usually subjected to high wind speeds without much shelter or protection. The aerodynamic loads due to wind blow should be reduced as far as possible. Designing the collector arrangement as well as collectors structures is of most important sections of establishing such power plants due to the wind force effects. In the present study, methods of calculating wind force and the effective parameters on the drag force are discussed. Wind force calculation is accomplished using CFD. Aerodynamic factors are calculated in the 3D model and in consequence shear analysis is performed for the collector and its structure. Simulating the problem in three-dimension provides the condition for more precise modeling of flow in between collectors distance, pressure distribution in collectors and the exerted moment on collectors structures.