A novel Compound Elliptical-type Concentrator for parabolic primaries with tubular receiver

The Parabolic Trough (PT) is the most used concentrator in CSP (Concentrated Solar Power). However, this concentrator technology is facing a significant challenge to increase its overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Meanwhile, other low-cost solutions such as Fresnel concentrators are also being perceived as potentially attractive. In order to achieve the lower cost goal, new optical solutions can be considered, in parallel with improvements coming, for instance, through the use of new materials or manufacturing solutions. But conventional PTs can still be improved to yield, for instance, higher concentration values, a possible starting point for higher conversion efficiency. These new solutions, in turn, can also be useful for other technologies and applications (Fresnel Concentrators, Central Tower Receivers, etc.). However it is easier to develop and test these solutions in conjunction with parabolic primaries (continuum primary). And that is the topic of this paper: to present a new Compound Elliptical-type Concentrator for a parabolic primary with a tubular receiver. A comparison is made between this new concentrator and two other concentrators (a conventional PT concentrator and a XX SMS (Simultaneous Multiple Surface) concentrator), as well as a calculation of the total amount of collected energy (kW h) for a particular location, Faro (Portugal). The paper ends with a discussion of the results obtained, their impact and possible applications in the future.

Cartografia das aprendizagens na freguesia da Torre de Coelheiros – a dimensão institucional

Comunicação que apresenta os resultados de um processo de levantamento dos episódios de aprendizagem mais significativos disponibilizados pelas instituições da freguesia de Torre de Coelheiros, entre 2002 e 2004.

Cartografia das Aprendizagens das freguesias de Torre de Coelheiros, Nossa Senhora de Machede e São Miguel de Machede

O presente projeto de pesquisa foi concretizado no período compreendido entre os meses de Fevereiro de 2002 e de Dezembro de 2004. Durante este período, o projeto conheceu três fases distintas: 1) coinstituição da equipa de colaboradores, 2) conceção, construção e validação dos instrumentos de recolha de informação, 3) caracterização da população a estudar (pessoas e instituições).