• Maharishi Solar Technology Private Limited

Parabolic Trough

Maharishi Solar Technology, the youngest venture of Maharishi Group, has launched the Parabolic Trough, a low cost solar solution for Indian industries. The technology is a result of the strategic tie-up with Abengoa Solar Inc (ASI), a world leader in delivering solar technology solutions. An estimated 30% of the 40 million tons of oil requirements can be met through Parabolic Trough Collectors. Parabolic Trough can thus substitute the use of conventional resources and be cost and time efficient and save millions for Indian Industries. Parabolic Trough is basically parabola shaped trough concentrators that reflect direct solar radiation onto a receiver tube located in the focal line of the parabola (Linear –focus concentration). Since the reflector area is larger than the receiver surface, the direct solar radiation is concentrated. The concentrated radiation reaching the receiver tube heats the fluid that circulates through it, thus transforming the solar radiation into thermal energy in the form of sensible heat of the fluid. Depending on the concentration ratio this fluid can be efficiently heated even up to 400C.
Tracking System: To keep the collector focused to the sun’s movement a tracking devise is necessary that keep the PTC focused to the sun.
Drive system: The tracking device will track the sun but it will need a drive system that will rotate the PTC to keep it focused to the sun. Generally several parabolas are attached to the drive system, which will rotate PTC to keep it facing the sun.
Control System: In a solar field there could be several drive systems rotating the PTCs. Each of these fields will have their local controls and to monitor each of the local controls there needs to be master controller, which will keep all the drive systems in unison and collect solar energy generated by each of the different fields. These local controls and master controls are the critical aspects of the solar fields.
Maharishi Solar’s PTC is the most sophisticated system in the market today. It is completely automated with over 70 different parameters that can be programmed to customise the system to suit a customer’s need and also keep the system completely safe. It is also a very efficient system, which maximises the heat absorption and minimises the heat losses from the receiver tubes. The receiver tubes have an envelope of glass tube with a special anti-reflective coating that minimises heat losses.