A new horizon

for solar energy

Soltigua presents PTM,
the parabolic solar collector
for a wide range of applications.

Soltigua, a new frontier

for an unlimited source
Clean energy production, greenhouse gas emissions reduction and environment preservation: Soltigua
creates new opportunities for the commercial and industrial sectors in terms of sustainability. Soltigua
oers solar-based innovative solutions to respond to the modern requirements of air-conditioning and
industrial heat production.
The parabolic solar troughs produced by Soltigua are the core of these energy systems; they are solar
thermal collectors which track the sun and concentrate its rays, enabling the system to reach high operating temperatures (above 200C). Hence, solar energy can be used in areas previously considered not
suitable for renewable energies.
Soltiguas solar concentrating systems can adapt to all requirements, from HVAC systems for small buildings to large solar elds for industrial use.
Due to their distinctive design, Soltiguas solar troughs clearly mark the sustainable prole of a building.

Possible applications
for solar thermal
collectors

250 C

Parabolic trough collectors

t electricity generation with ORC cycle

200 C
t industrial refrigeration at temperatures below 0C
t solar cooling with double effect absorption chillers

Evacuated tube collectors

150 C

t industrial process heat at medium temperature

100 C

t industrial process heat at low temperature

t desalination process with multiple effect process

t solar cooling with single effect absorption chillers

Flat plate
collectors
50 C

t domestic heating at low temperature

t domestic hot water production
t swimming pool heating

01

PTM: the parabolic trough

for a wide range of applications
PTM, Soltiguas parabolic trough, is developed and produced in Italy. Due to several innovations, PTM
includes all the advantages of solar concentration that, up to today, have been available exclusively to
solar thermal power stations.
Today, this innovative technology becomes available for a wide range of applications.

PTM parabolic collectors include the following innovations:

-

high modularity, available also in small sizes;

multiple possibilities of installation, such as, for example, on at roofs;
modern and attractive design;
unbreakable mirrors;
precise and reliable sun tracking system;
automatic safety devices;
possibility of installation along any orientation.

PTM is available in three basic models of dierent size, that can be combined in order to realize customized solar elds, up to several hundred square meters of collecting surface.

02

1 square meter of parabolic trough can

produce over 1000 kWh annually at 150
C,
hence avoiding the emission of over 190 kg of
CO2 into the atmosphere1.

Technical
features

Model
Net collecting surface [sqm]

PTM 12

PTM 18

PTM 24

27

40

54

Aperture width [m]

Length [m]
Peak power [kWt]

2,4
13,1

19,7

26,0

19

29

39

Mirrors

Highly reective polished aluminium sheets

Receiver

Selectively coated tube

Working temperature

Up to 220C

Heat transfer uid

Water or thermal oil

- Completely automatic
- Monitoring and diagnosing system
- Bad weather automatic stowing procedure
- Web based remote control
- Safety system against overheating

Further features

Energy
yields

[kWh/sqm year]

Cairo (Egypt)

Nice (France)

Seville (Spain)

100C

1136

814

850

200C

975

711

747

Front view of a PTM 24 module.

The above-listed energy data of the parabolic troughs are purely indicative, since they are based on preliminary experimental results.
The eciency of the solar concentrators could vary depending on the installations location and orientation, climatic conditions, plant
design adopted and the fossil fuel which is being substituted.

03

A sustainable identity
Due to its modern design, PTM is an architectural distinctive sign that characterises a buildings prole
and communicates environmental awareness. The parabolic troughs therefore increase the value of the
building by emphasising its sustainability.
PTM can be used in both new and existing buildings to complement traditional energy sources. The parabolic troughs can be installed on at roofs or on top of parking slot shelters. They can also be organised
to create solar elds on ground2. Thanks to its special characteristics, PTM functions also in rigid climates,
representing an optimal solution for residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Roof installation

04

Shelter installation

Ground installation

The CO2 emission reduction of one PTM

24 operating at 150
C is equal to the
contribution of a forest of over 400 trees3.

Ideal installations
include:

2
3

shopping malls
hospitals
tourist and hotel resorts
oce buildings
district heating and/or district cooling systems
industrial sites in various sectors
(food and beverage, textile, industrial cleaning, etc.)

Verify the suitability of chosen installation with the buildings characteristics and with the relevant regulation.
Indicative data.

05

Solar cooling,
air-conditioning directly from the sun
Solar cooling is one of the most fascinating applications of solar energy, because it generates air-conditioning from the suns energy. This system takes advantage of the coincidence of high summer solar
radiation and the need for air-conditioning during the same period. , This reduces signicantly the energy
consumption of the building, thus increasing its environmental sustainability. In particular, solar cooling
decreases electricity consumption during peak hours and therefore reduces the risk of blackouts due to
grid overload. A source of traditional heating and a storage system enable continuous operations at night
or during cloudy periods.
PTM solar concentrators represent a revolutionary technology because they achieve a high eciency of
the cooling system by supplying a double eect absorption chiller with high temperature heat. Unique
in its kind, this solution permits the maximum exploitation of the suns potential, generating an energy
eciency which can not be reached by other solar technologies.

Comparison of
solar cooling
technologies4

A complete
system

06

Average performance per sqm

installed

evacuated tube collectors +

single stage absorption chiller

parabolic troughs +
double stage absorption chiller

Collector eciency

0,6

0,5

Chiller eciency (COP)

0,75

1,34

Total system performance

0,45

0,67

+49%

PTM can be eciently used to integrate domestic hot water production and to contribute to a buildings
heating during winter, oering a complete solution for HVAC systems that reduces emissions and the
energy bill. Due to its characteristics, PTM can also function in combination with medium-temperatureheating-systems , such as, for example, those with radiators.
Furthermore, by using clean and renewable solar energy, parabolic troughs represent the most appropriate technology for realising solar district heating and cooling systems.

Compared to traditional solar cooling

technologies, PTM concentrators can increase
the solar cooling eciency by 40% 4.

Case study5

Oce Building

Cairo (Egypt)

Nice (France)

Seville (Spain)

1,000

1,000

1,000

Solar collecting surface [sqm]

189

214

201

Required Cooling Power [kW]

115

115

115

Air-conditioning Consumption
[kWh/year]

193,000

100,000

123,000

Air-conditioning solar fraction

70%

70%

70%

Total energy savings for

air-conditioning, heating
and domestic hot water
production [kWh/year]

169,000

111,000

119,000

Total CO2 savings [kg/year]

35,000

23,000

24.000

Building oor area [sqm]

COP

System
layout

Double eect
absorption chiller

Hot/cold
storage

AIR-CONDITIONING/HEATING
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

DOMESTIC HOT WATER

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Auxiliary
energy source

Domestic
Hot water storage
Heat exchanger
Concentrating
solar eld

Water supply

The performance data published are indicative and partially based on commercial information.
The present case study is obtained through computer simulation and based on a hypothetical scenario regarding the location and the
orientation of the installation, the climate conditions, the building, etc. It is therefore published as an indicative estimate.

07

Process heat
production
Thanks to the abundant solar radiation available throughout Southern Europe and the Mediterranean area, a vast number of industrial processes that require thermal energy can be realised by integrating traditional energy sources with solar energy. In sectors where medium temperature heat
is required PTM collectors can be used to generate process heat. Energy savings and environmental
pollution reduction are particularly ecient in processes where daily and annual demands for heat
are constant, or where peaks of demand are reached during summer (e.g.: dry-cleaning facilities for
tourist resorts).

Industrial processes
suitable for PTM
integration

Further
applications
08

Industry

Process

Temperature [C]

Food and beverages

cleaning
pasteurisation
sterilisation
drying
cooking

80 - 150
80 - 110
130 - 150
130 - 240
80 - 100

Plastic

extrusion and drying

150 - 180

Chemical

heat treatments
boiling
distillation
drying

150 - 180
95 - 100
110 - 300
150 - 180

Paper

bleaching and drying

130 - 180

Textile

washing
heat treatment
bleaching
dyeing

80 - 100
80 - 130
60 - 100
100 - 160

Industrial cleaning

steam washing

150

PTM parabolic troughs can be eciently used to realise:

- seawater desalination plants;
- industrial refrigeration at temperatures below 0C;
- localised power station plants.

The picture represents the installation of PTM realised at the company Laterizi Gambettola srl, in
Gambettola (FC) - Italy. The system is used for solar cooling and supplies the oces with air-conditioning during the summer period whilst, during winter, it contributes to the oces heating. It also
integrates domestic hot water production throughout the entire year.

Soltigua reserves the right to make any changes at any moment of time and without further notice.
Soltigua is a trade mark deposited by Laterizi Gambettola srl.

Maximum eciency for solar cooling

High energy savings
Reduction of CO2 emission
Elimination of environmental impact
Modern design for a sustainable architecture
Wide range of working temperature, unreachable by traditional collectors
Adaptable to all sizes, from mini to maxi

Soltiguas concentrating collectors can deliver solar energy to thermal processes up to 250C.
By offering both parabolic and Fresnel technology, Soltigua can supply the solar solution that best
serves the specific needs of each given installation.
Project enquiries can be addressed to info@soltigua.com.

Via Roma, 54 - 47035 Gambettola (FC) - Italy

Tel. +39 0547 52600 - Fax +39 0547 52756
info@soltigua.com - www.soltigua.com

Soltigua is a brand of Laterizi Gambettola SRL. All rights reserved.

NOTE: product information provided in this document are purely indicative, can be changed at any time and do not imply any commitment of the author.

Main advantages of Soltiguas PTM parabolic troughs: