Parabolic trough mirror and receiving tube from a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant array

Made:
2022 in Spain
Parabolic trough mirror and receiving tube from a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant array

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Section of parabolic trough mirror and receiving tube for use within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant array, both made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain, 2022.

This section of parabolic trough mirror and receiving tube for use within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant array exemplifies one of the renewable energy technologies key to delivering decarbonisation of global systems. CSP plants use large mirrors to focus solar energy onto a receiver. They come in various arrangements that use different optical principles. As represented by this object, one type uses mirrors with parabolic cross-sections to focus energy onto a receiving tube; mirrors pivot throughout the day to maximise the sunlight they capture. Other arrangements use concentric mirror arrays to focus energy onto a central tower. Electricity is generated either by using the solar energy to heat water to create steam which drives a turbine; or by using the solar energy to drive a thermochemical reaction.

This mirror is manufactured by the Spanish firm Rioglass. As of 2022, Spain leads the world in CSP capacity, accounting for almost one third of electricity generated globally using this technology. Rioglass are a major supplier of Spanish and international CSP plants.

Details

Category:
Electricity Supply
Object Number:
2023-359
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Measurements:
receiver (boxed): 165 mm x 165 mm x 4105 mm, 25 kg
mirrors (boxed): 1660 mm x 1140 mm x 1900 mm, 170 kg
overall (assembled, approx): 3000 mm x 5100 mm
type:
mirror

Parts

Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An outer mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
outer mirror: 1501 mm x 1700 mm x 150 mm, 25.3 kg
overall (assembled, approx): 3000 mm x 5100 mm
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/1
type:
mirror
Receiving tube from a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant array

Receiving tube from a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant array

Receiving tube for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Sevilla, Aznalcóllar, Spain.

Measurements:
overall: 350 mm x 230 mm x 4170 mm, 25 kg
Materials:
glass
Object Number:
2023-359/2
type:
receiving tube
Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An outer mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
overall: 1501 mm x 1700 mm 25.3 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/3
type:
mirror
Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An outer mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
overall: 1501 mm x 1700 mm 25.3 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/4
type:
mirror
Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An outer mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
overall: 1501 mm x 1700 mm 25.3 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/5
type:
mirror
Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An outer mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
overall: 1501 mm x 1700 mm 25.3 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/6
type:
mirror
Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An outer mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
overall: 1501 mm x 1700 mm 25.3 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/7
type:
mirror
Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An inner mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
overall: 1641 mm x 1700 mm 27.6 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/8
type:
mirror
Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An inner mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
overall: 1641 mm x 1700 mm 27.6 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/9
type:
mirror
Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An inner mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
overall: 1641 mm x 1700 mm 27.6 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/10
type:
mirror
Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An inner mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
overall: 1641 mm x 1700 mm 27.6 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/11
type:
mirror
Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An inner mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
overall: 1641 mm x 1700 mm 27.6 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/12
type:
mirror
Parabolic Trough Mirror

Parabolic Trough Mirror

An inner mirror - one of a series of 12 mirrors (6 inner and 6 outer) for use in a parabolic trough solar collector within a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, made by Rioglass, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.

More

These huge mirrors pivot to capture the Sun’s energy in an industrial solar plant. They focus sunlight onto receiving tubes that connect to a turbine. Row upon row can be seen in sunny regions in the United States, Spain, north Africa, the Middle East and India.

Measurements:
overall: 1641 mm x 1700 mm 27.6 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and glass
Object Number:
2023-359/13
type:
mirror

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