Parabolic Troughs – How Solar Energy Is Used In Commercial Plants

Parabolic troughs are being used in more commercial plants. The cruved mirrors reflect light to a focal points where a liquid is heated up to create steam.

By: Abhishek Agarwal
t it is also harder to maintain due to the corrosive effects of the environment. Keeping the reflectors clean is an important task to uphold. Dirt will degrade how well the light reflects off the panels. The panels are usually built running north to south and are controlled on an axis to follow the path of the sun. On cloudy days, this could be a bit of problem. This is why plants need other ways to get electricity.

This concentrating solar power system is mostly used in commercial plants. The power the parabolic troughs generate is able to run heating and cooling systems, generators, alternators and machinery. The largest operational concentrated solar power system is located in Kramer, Junction, California at a Solar Energy Generating Systems plant, which is located in the Mojave Desert. Like the SEGS plants, many commercial plants are a hybrid of parabolic troughs and other forms of electricity. The SEGS plants use natural gas when it isn't using part of 1,600 acres that make up the parabolic troughs.

One of the more interesting things about this concentrated solar power system is that it can hold energy for an extended period of time. Molten salt is a residue of the process, but it is used to generate power hours or even days later. When the molten salt heats up the water it can generate electricity. The salt stays hot for several days and can be used later. Because solar power is used by an inconsistent method, these salts will help on a cloudy day or even at night.

Finding renewable energy sources is important with growing climate problem of the world. The problem with parabolic troughs is that it needs a large area of land for it to work well. These concentrated solar power systems are found in clear fields where there isn’t much vegetation blocking the path of the sun. However, with more commercial plants using this resource, the world is slowly moving in the right direction while looking for better ways to get energy.

Abhishek is an avid Environmentalist and he has got some great Alternative Fuel Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 70 Pages Ebook, "Energy Conservation And Alternative Fuel" from his website http://www.Wonder-Homes.com/643/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

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