The study of one-through solar absorber receiver

This paper introduces the configuration and components of a solar absorber receiver in the parabolic trough solar power system. The failure or degradation of the receiver, mainly including glass-to-metal sealing failure, loss of vacuum and degradation of solar selective coating, is the single largest cost factor for current and future solar power plant. The article elaborates the principle of glass-to-metal sealing and a new glass-to-metal seal technology that has been developed through a lot of experiments. The tensile tests and EPMA tests have proven the high reliability and strength of the glass-to-metal seals. The vacuum seal of glass-metal joint is tested using a helium mass spectrometer leak detector. The paper also introduces a new solar selective coating and getters used in the receiver. A process of glass to metal sealing is developed and the prototypes of solar absorber receiver are manufactured.