With roof mounted linear Fresnel collectors it is possible to provide industrial process heat of up to 200°C, which makes them well suited to power efficient absorption chillers.

Two prototypes and two commercial units of the PSE linear Fresnel process heat collector were installed so far. The tests and measurements at the pilot solar cooling system in Bergamo show a reliable automatic operation and a typical efficiency of the PSE Fresnel collector of approx. 40% with respect to DNI at 180°C. The system is continuously operated since late summer 2006.

In late 2007 and early 2008 the first commercial systems were commissioned in Spain and Tunisia. Both will be evaluated by the customers in the frame of research/demonstration projects.

We are step by step upgrading our production facilities in Freiburg, Germany and expect more projects for solar cooling and for the generation of process heat for industrial processes in the near future.

Acknowledgement

The development of the PSE Fresnel process heat collector was partially funded by Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt.

References

[1] A. Haberle, M. Berger, F. Luginsland, C. Zahler, M. Baitsch, H.-M. Henning, M. Rommel: Linear Concentrating Fresnel Collector for Process Heat Applications, 13th International SolarPACES Symposium on Solar Thermal Concentrating Technologies, Seville, 2006

[2] Lupfert, E.: Test Report PTR Parabolic Trough Receiver 2005 — Modelling Parameters from Test Results, DLR, 2005

[3] A. Haberle, M. Berger, F. Luginsland, C. Zahler, M. Baitsch, H.-M. Henning, M. Rommel: Linear Concentrating Fresnel Collector for Process Heat Applications, ESTEC, 3rd European Solar Thermal Energy Conference, Freiburg, 2007