Techno-economic analysis of hybrid solar thermal systems with flat plate and parabolic trough collectors in industrial applications

Abstract

Hybrid configurations that combine two different solar thermal collector technologies are considered to improve the economic competitiveness of solar systems in district heating applications. However, the performance of these systems in the industrial sector has been scarcely studied. This study evaluates the energetic and economic potential of hybrid systems with flat plate and parabolic trough collectors under different industrial process temperatures and radiation levels. To enable this evaluation, a hybrid field sizing methodology was developed. The results showed that the hybrid system could achieve high solar fractions with a lower levelized cost of heat than parabolic trough collector individual systems and smaller solar field areas than flat plate collector individual systems. Furthermore, the hybrid system with approximately 50% flat plate collectors reached monthly solar fractions up to 91% higher than the individual flat plate collector alternative. The seasonal performance demonstrates that the hybrid configuration could have great potential for applications with higher demand in the summer months, such as solar cooling with absorption chillers and solar water desalination for crop irrigation. This study contributes to the understanding of the potential of hybrid systems in the industrial sector and presents tools and insights for future research of hybrid solar thermal configurations.