Technologies

Offices, plants and installations

Concentrated Solar Power

Roof Mounted Trough (RMT)

The RMT (Roof Mounted Trough) is a compact, value engineered version of the PT-1.It employs the same unique patented space frame design as the PT-1, but its smaller profile reduces winds loads to allow roof-mounting.

Concentrator

The physical characteristics of the RMT
concentrator modules are:

Materials of Construction	Aluminum and steel
Reflective surface	Silvered film

Receiver

Reflected solar energy is focused by the parabolic concentrator onto the receiver at the parabola’s focal point.The receiver comprises a steel absorber tube coated with a black chrome selective surface, and a surrounding envelope of Pyrex® glass to reduce heat loss.An anti-reflective coating on the glass increases light transmission.The receiver specifications are:

Selective Surface	Black Chrome
Absorber Envelope Materials	Borosilicate glass with anti-reflective coating
Maximum Operating Temperature	400° F (204° C)

Thermal Performance

The RMT collector has not been tested for thermal performance.However, because of its geometrical similarity to the PT-1, collector performance is similar, although we generally estimate delivered energy to be 5 -10% less than the PT-1.

Drive and Controls

The collector system operates automatically.The collectors track the sun continuously during the day.Local controllers regulate the collector tracking motors, while a single field controller monitors operation of the overall system.The control system incorporates safety devices that monitor sun, wind, system temperatures and pressures.Measured data and calculated values are stored at the controller and can be accessed locally or remotely using a modem or through the Internet.A unique multi-row configuration drives up to four rows of troughs in unison so reducing the number of moving parts and increasing reliability.Collector rows can be up to 8 modules (99 ft, 30.1 m) long.Typical row-to-row collector spacing is 8 – 10 ft (2.44 to 3.05 m).

Flexible Hoses

Fully insulated flexible hoses accommodate the motion of the receiver with respect to the fixed field piping.The expected life of these hoses is at least15 years.

Operation and Maintenance

RMT systems are fully automated and they run unattended with minimal O&M requirements.Most problems can be detected through off-site monitoring.Periodic site inspections, every one or two weeks, are generally adequate to monitor system operations and to perform routine maintenance.Rain is very effective at washing the reflective surfaces so as to maintain thermal performance.

 

Links

Download our White Paper on Trough Technology