Assessment of Small-Scale Parabolic Trough Collectors for Integration in Industrial Process Heat

This study deals with the preliminary analysis of a small-scale Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) installed on a rooftop at an industrial complex for the production of process heat. Four scenarios, featuring Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) outlet temperatures from the PTC of 120°C, 150°C, 200°C, and 250°C, were assessed, varying both collector surfaces and storage capacities; the Levelized Cost of Heat (LCOH) was evaluated for each configuration. The analysis considered data from a commercially available PTC, selected based on a survey among research and industrial partners, and integrated into the System Advisor Model (SAM) libraries. Meteorological data from a North Italian site, characterized by a low annual DNI value, was also considered, assuming this location for the solar plant installation. Economic evaluations employed both literature reviews and real-component purchase price assessments conducted by the partnership. The findings suggest that a LCOH between 4.30 and 4.83 c€/kWh is achievable, with the HTF outlet PTC temperature of 200°C emerging as the scenario allowing for the lowest LCOH due to its balance between the costs of the plant, particularly those related to storage systems, and the thermal energy output.