Basic introduction of solar collectors and energy and exergy analysis of a heliostat plant

Since greenhouse effect due to intemperance of fossil fuel consumption, is the reason of global warming, attempts have been made for substitution of solar energy for coal, oil and natural gas in last decades. There are different approaches to benefit the sun energy and convert it to thermal and electrical energy such as photovoltaic (PV) Panels, solar thermal collectors, Concentrating Solar Plant (CSP), solar cookers, etc. In this regard which is mainly about solar collectors the aim is to introduce different types of solar collector systems such as solar heliostats collectors, solar parabolic plant and solar dishes; then as a specimen the energy and exergy of a heliostat collector with a molten salt cavity receiverwould be investigated.Finally some ways would be introduced to optimize the performance of the plant by calculating the energy and exergy loss of the cycle.