SIMULATION AND ANALYSIS OF PARABOLOID SOLAR CONCENTRATORS: A PYTHON-BASED APPROACH FOR VISUALIZING RAY TRACING AND PERFORMANCE
Keywords:
Paraboloid Solar Concentrators (PSCs), Ray Tracing, Solar Energy Concentration, Focal Point, Simulation, Python Visualization, Parabolic Geometry, Solar Thermal Systems, Reflection Law, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).Abstract
Paraboloid solar concentrators (PSCs) are highly efficient devices used for concentrating solar energy onto a focal point, which can then be utilized for thermal energy collection. The efficiency of a PSC is heavily influenced by its geometric design, particularly the parabolic dish, which focuses parallel rays of sunlight onto a receiver. This paper presents a simulation-based approach to model the geometry and ray tracing of a parabolic solar concentrator. Using fundamental physical principles, we model the parabolic surface, simulate the reflection of light rays, and visualize their convergence at the focal point. The results provide a foundation for more advanced studies on the optimization and performance of PSCs in solar thermal systems.
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