The President of the Northern Technical University attends an M.Sc. thesis discussion on improving the performance of parabolic trough solar collectors using a solar tracking system.

Eager to follow up on postgraduate students, the President of the Northern Technical University, Professor Dr. Alia Abbas Ali Al-Attar, attended the M.Sc. thesis discussion at the Technical Engineering College – Kirkuk, presented by the student Amer Badawi Ahmed (Fabrication and Implementation of a Solar Energy System). Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors (PTCs) are among the most prominent concentrated solar power technologies, and linking them with a smart dual-axis solar tracking system to improve the efficiency of the solar collector, energy quality, and dynamic response.

The thesis addressed:

1. Manufacturing two parabolic trough solar collectors, one fixed and the other integrated with a solar tracking system.
2. Studying the effect of the solar tracking system, the fluid flow rate, and the type of absorber tube coating on the thermal performance of the parabolic trough collector.

The thesis aimed to:
Evaluate and improve the thermal performance of a parabolic trough solar collector by:

· Comparing a fixed system optimized with a tilt angle to a system equipped with solar tracking.
· Testing four flow rates (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 L/min).
· Using three types of absorber tubes (uncoated, coated, and coated with a nano-layer).

Key Findings:

1. A clear increase in the absorbed thermal energy when using solar tracking for all flow rates.
2. At a flow rate of 0.5 L/min, the thermal power of the coated tube increased from about 69 W without tracking to 371 W with tracking.
3. At 1.5 L/min, the nano-coated tube recorded the highest performance (1562 W with tracking compared to 521 W without tracking).
4. Thermal efficiency improved significantly with tracking, reaching about 37% at 0.5 L/min compared to 7% without tracking.
5. The nano-coated tubes recorded the best overall performance in terms of thermal energy, efficiency, and outlet temperature.
6. The results showed that the optimal flow rate was between 1.0 – 1.5 L/min to achieve the highest thermal performance.
7. Emphasis on adopting solar tracking systems in solar thermal energy projects in Iraq.

Thesis Discussion Committee
The thesis discussion committee was chaired by:

· Prof. Dr. Omar Khalil Ahmed – Chairman
· Asst. Prof. Dr. Ihsan Fadel Abbas – Member
· Asst. Prof. Dr. Burhan Shahin Mohammed Fakhruddin – Member
· Asst. Prof. Dr. Obaid Majeed Ali – Member and Supervisor