However, there is one important difference. No harm is done to the environment by burning coal, oil, natural gas or by splitting uranium to produce steam. It is produced solely by the energy that comes from the sun. In order to achieve the high temperatures required, solar radiation must be concentrated. Parabolic trough collectors represent the … Diagram of a parabolic trough power plant Heat transfer fluid Steam Cooling tower Generator Turbine Additional heating Heat exchanger Parabolic trough How Solar Thermal Power Plants Work … Solar Thermal Power Plant (CSP) Direct Steam … 4.60 m Steam turbine Process and Plant • Conversion of primary solar energy into … ad equipment • Sketch of single line diagram and …

in addition to the role that precision optical mirrors play, the evacuated receivers, which are approximately 13 feet (4 meters) in length and are protected by glass covers, also contribute considerably towards the efficiency of parabolic trough power plants. In fact, they convert solar radiation into heat. The envelope tube consists of coated, highly-transparent and robust borosilicate glass. High Energy Efficiency The weak point with most coatings is that they cease to adhere to borosilicate glass over time. However, SCHOTT’s PTR 70 receiver contains a unique, anti-reflective coating that resists abrasion for a longer period of time. At the same time, the coating allows more than 96% of solar radiation to penetrate. SCHOTT’s new receiver is at the technical forefront Parabolic trough with receivers Parabolic trough power plant in Nevada (photo rendering), which is scheduled to begin providing energy to the grid in 2007 The absorber tube, which is made of steel and is located on the inside, must be capable of absorbing a lot of solar radiation without emitting significant amounts of heat. To achieve this, SCHOTT developed a coating that offers an absorption rate of 95%. At a temperature of approximately 400°Celsius, only a maximum of 14% of the total heat is emitted. The junction between the absorber and the glass envelope tube that keeps the vacuum represents the critical spot on the receiver. Differences in the thermal expansion of the steel tube and the glass envelope tube are compensated by bellows made of metal. In order to seal the glass to the metal, SCHOTT developed a new borosilicate glass that offers the same expansion coefficient as the melted down metal. This seal is now able to stand up to the severe shifts in temperature that result when cool evenings become hot days

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