parabolic troughs

Parabolic troughs are large, curved mirrors designed to concentrate sunlight onto a focused point or line. They track the sun’s movement throughout the day to maximize energy collection. The focused sunlight heats a fluid—usually oil or molten salt—inside a tube running along the mirror’s curve. This high-temperature fluid then transfers heat to produce steam, which drives a turbine to generate electricity. Parabolic trough systems are a common type of solar thermal power plant, efficiently converting sunlight into usable energy, especially in sunny, arid regions where continuous sunlight allows for consistent power generation.