Structural Optimization of Receiver Support of Parabolic Trough Collector Using Finite Element Analysis and Multicriteria Decision Making Method

The primary component of a parabolic trough collector system is the receiver support structure, which secures the receiver at the focal line of trough so that all concentrated rays fall on it. Along with being robust enough, the structure must also not be too heavy, as doing so will increase the system’s mass, torque, and cost. This work offers a first-principles analysis of the steel receiver support structure with considering various shapes and dimensions for low deformation, minimal mass, and thus improved cost-effectiveness. Using the SolidWorks program, a total of 812 steel structures of various shapes, widths and thicknesses were designed, and in the Ansys program, finite element analysis was used to simulate the structures. In order to determine the radiation losses caused by collector deformation, ray-tracing was used and lastly multicriteria decision making method was used for selecting optimized structure. The L-angle (30 mm × 30 mm × 3 mm) as a beam and circular pipe (diameter—20 mm and 1.5 mm thick) as a member were finally selected as an optimized design taking into account the manufacturing aspect, optimum deformation, optimum mass of the support. The achieved cost of the optimized support was INR 862 per piece or 240 INR/m2 (max) aperture of collector. The presented design methodology can be applicable for designing receiver support for any PTC with different aperture, length, and focal distance. © 2023, The Institution of Engineers (India).