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There are three main types of concentrating solar power systems
Parabolic-trough, Dish Engine, Power Tower
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Nowadays, the most developed technology is parabolic-trough followed by a solar tower, whilst dish stirling engine is mainly developed for decentralized and small power plants.
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Parabolic-trough:
The systems concentrate the sun’s energy through long rectangular, curved (U-shaped) mirrors. The mirrors are tilted toward the sun, focusing the sunlight on a pipe which runs down the centre of the trough. This heats the oil flowing through the pipe. The hot oil is then used to boil water in a conventional steam generator to produce electricity.
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Dish / Engine:
The system uses a mirrored dish (similar to a very large satellite dish). The dish-shaped surface collects and concentrates the sun’s heat onto a receiver, which absorbs the heat and transfers it to fluid within the engine. The heat causes the fluid to expand against a piston or turbine to produce mechanical power. The mechanical power is then used to run a generator or alternator to produce electricity.
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Power Tower:
This system uses a large field of mirrors to concentrate the sunlight on the top of a tower, where there lies a riceiver. This heats molten salt or air flowing through the receiver. The heat is then used to generate electricity through a conventional steam generator.
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