The prototype is covered by a glass plate. Thus the sensible parts of the collector like the reflector sheet and the absorber system are protected against mechanical impacts like hail and sandy dust. Additionally, the glass cover increases the torsion stiffness of the trough and simplifies the clean­ing. Around the outer border of the trough, a flange strip with a crimping is screwed. The glass cover, surrounded by an EPDM-sealing, and the flange strip are clamped together with a terminal strip.

The flange strip is mounted with a numerous number of screws, so that the assembly is complex and very time consuming. Moreover, it is not possible to dissemble the terminal strip without de­stroying it.

Planned optimization: The new parabolic body will be designed with a border, so that an addi­tional flange strip won’t be necessary anymore. The deep drawing process allows adding such a border without large additional effort. With a special designed terminal strip, the glass sheet will be fixed on the troughs’ body. In difference to the former concept the terminal strip will be remov-

able. Thus, changing of reflector material and/or absorber system parts can easily be done by re­moving the glass cover. All parts are accessible and removable then, without disassembling of the whole collector. This provides an economic profit not only concerning dis-/assembly time but also concerning operational costs.

1.2 Reflector

The prototypes’ reflector comprises a 0,5 mm thick sheet, which is coated with a high reflective surface. According to the manufacturers’ description the degree of reflection is 95 %. The sheet is inserted into the trough and pressed into the parabolic shape by the glass cover respectively the sealing.

Since the sheet is not connected to the trough, the surface is wavy, especially at the borders directly under the glass cover. The resulting decrease of efficiency could be determined with the above mentioned photogrammetry (see Fig. 3). Due to the non-removable terminal strip, the access to the reflector sheet is problematic.

Planned optimization: In the optimized concept a very similar reflector with a slightly lower re­flection rate of 92 % will be used. In difference to the prototypes design it will be glued to the sur­face of the parabolic trough by a self-adhesive backside of the reflector sheet, to achieve a consis­tent shape without any waves. The surface of the reflector is scratch resistant. Thus, it is not neces­sary to change the reflective material too often which lowers the systems’ operational costs, despite the fact, that the surface of the reflector sheet is additionally protected against mechanical impacts from the ambience by the covering glass plate.

2. Economical aspects

The material costs of the prototype were around 400 €/m2. Caused by increased material costs, this level will not be reducible with the new collector prototypes. Material costs of 250 €/m2 are aspired for the parabolic body, bearings, the reflector, the glass cover and the absorber system. Approxi­mately 150 €/m2 are planned for the trestle, the tracking system, the actuation and the control sys­tem.

The costs in a later on series production strongly depend on the produced units. Thus, it is difficult to predict the costs but it is anticipated to lower the costs for the all over concept in future.

3. Further steps

As mentioned above, the optimization and the further development towards a series production will go on until the end of June 2009. In this time the further constructive optimization and the fabrica­tion of the collectors will be finished. The tests will start in the following at the collector test facil­ity of the SIJ. The series production is planned to start in the year 2010.