The value of concentration ratio of flat plate collector is
Answers
To this point, we have developed an understanding of how solar energy is collected by flat-plate collectors…those where the entire area that the sun’s radiation falls, absorbs the incident energy. Concentrating collectors, on the other hand, use large reflectors to ´concentrate´ the incident solar energy onto a smaller receiver. The main goal for doing this is to increase the temperature of the heat collected from the sun. Increased temperature is a benefit for many industrial process uses, and is directly connected to the efficiency at which electricity can be produced from thermal sources.
In the following sections we will develop the analytical tools necessary to understand the basic concepts of concentration of solar energy, in parabolic trough, parabolic dish, central receivers and Fresnel lens solar collection systems