Study on the influence of parabolic-trough solar concentrator under snow load

The parabolic-trough solar concentrator is the key component in parabolic-trough solar thermal power plants. The parabolic-trough solar concentrator is designed in this paper. It was analyzed under operational condition and under snow load. The model of the coefficient of accumulated snow with the different rotational angle is established. The coefficient was calculated with the model for a parabolic-trough solar system in Nanjing China. And the optimal position is gotten by the analysis of the coefficient. Finally, the equivalent stress and the deformation of the concentrator were simulated under the operational position and under snow load. The concentrator meets the design requirements of the stress and the deformation. As a result, the optimal position for avoiding snow is right by the contrast to the waiting position. The proposed concentrator model of accumulated snow will lay a solid foundation for designing the parabolic-trough solar concentrator.