State-of-the-Art Measurement Instrumentation and Most Recent Measurement Techniques for Parabolic Trough Collector Fields

The presented review gives reliable information about the currently used measurement instrumentation in parabolic trough fields and recent monitoring approaches. The usually built-in measurement equipment in the solar field, clamp-on systems for flexible measurements of temperature and flow, solar irradiance measurements, standard meteorological equipment, laboratory devices for heat transfer fluid analyses and instruments related to the tracking of solar collector assemblies are presented in detail. The measurement systems are reported with their measurement uncertainty, approximate costs and usual installation location for the built-in instrumentation. Specific findings related to the installation and operation of the measurement devices are presented. The usually installed instrumentation delivers a lot of measurements all over the field at the expense of measurement accuracy, compared to special test facility equipment. Recently introduced measurement approaches can improve the standard instrumentation in terms of accuracy, frequency, spatial distribution or can even extend the amount of measurands. The information about available measurands is the basis for future operation and maintenance solutions based on data-driven approaches.

Automated summary

This review provides detailed information about the measurement instrumentation used in parabolic trough fields and recent monitoring approaches, including their measurement uncertainty, costs, and installation location. The study suggests that while the usually installed instrumentation delivers a large number of measurements throughout the field, it sacrifices some accuracy, compared to special test facility equipment. Recently introduced measurement approaches have the potential to improve standard instrumentation in terms of accuracy, frequency, spatial distribution, and the amount of measurands.