JIC_V1_N2_RP4 Ankur Garg Avadhesh Yadav Journal on Instrumentation & Control Engineering 2321 – 1148 1 2 19 25 Solar Energy, Parabolic Trough Concentrator, Fabrication, Thermal Performance The potential for a solar-thermal system for hot water generation has been studied. Solar electric generation systems (PTSC) currently in operation are based on parabolic trough solar collectors using water as heat transfer fluid in the collector loop to transfer thermal energy. To improve performance and reduce costs direct steam generation in the collector has been proposed. In this paper the efficiency of parabolic trough collectors is compared on the basis of different reflecting surfaces (current SEGS plants). The model is based on absorber fluid temperature so it can be used to predict the performance of the collector with any working fluid. The effects of absorber emissivity and internal working fluid convection effects are evaluated. An efficiency equation for trough collectors is developed and used in a simulation model to evaluate the performance of direct steam generation collectors for different radiation conditions and different absorber tube sizes. The authors determined the performance of PTSC on the basis of different reflecting surfaces. February - April 2013 Copyright © 2013 i-manager publications. All rights reserved. i-manager Publications http://www.imanagerpublications.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=2233