Abstract

Parabolic Trough collector assembly is made with an automatic sun-tracking system, to get the solar angle of incidence between the beam of solar radiation and the normal on the surface of the trough equal to zero. This study aims to present the best sun-tracking system for parabolic trough solar collectors operated in Sebha city. Five orientations have been selected for the Parabolic trough collector. In first orientation the axis was horizontal east-west and moving once on a single axis, in Second the axis was horizontal east-west and moving continuously on a single axis, in Third the axis was horizontal north-south moving continuously on a single axis, in Fourth the axis was north-south and parallel to the earth's axis. Fifth, the axis was north-south and moving on two axes. The results of the work serve as an information basis for future research on parabolic trough collectors that will operate in Sabha city, which showed that the First, second and Fourth orientation, was collected solar radiation values are acceptable in some applications. Although the Third (especially in summer) and Fifth orientations are collecting the largest amount of direct solar radiation, the cost these systems are very expensive.