Editing Parabolic trough (section)

== Enclosed trough ==

[[File:Inside an enclosed CSP Trough.jpg|thumb|right|Inside an enclosed trough system]]
The enclosed trough architecture encapsulates the solar thermal system within a greenhouse-like glasshouse. The glasshouse creates a protected environment to withstand the elements that can increase the reliability and efficiency of the solar thermal system.<ref name="2012 pred">Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd, [http://www.deloitte.com/energypredictions2012 "Energy & Resources Predictions 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106174132/http://www.deloitte.com/energypredictions2012 |date=2013-01-06 }}, 2 November 2011</ref>

Lightweight curved solar-reflecting mirrors are suspended within the glasshouse. A [[Solar tracker|single-axis tracking system]] positions the mirrors to track the sun and focus its light onto a network of stationary steel pipes, also suspended from the glasshouse structure.<ref>Helman, Christopher, [https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0425/features-glasspoint-greenhouses-green-energy-oil-from-sun.html "Oil from the sun"], "Forbes", April 25, 2011</ref> Steam is generated directly using oil field-quality water, as water flows along the length of the pipes, without heat exchangers or intermediate working fluids.

The steam produced is then fed directly to the field's existing steam distribution network, where the steam is continuously injected deep into the oil reservoir. Sheltering the mirrors from the wind allows them to achieve higher temperatures and prevents dust from building up as a result from exposure to humidity.<ref name="2012 pred" /> [[GlassPoint Solar]], the company that created the Enclosed Trough design, states its technology can produce heat for EOR for about $5 per million British thermal units in sunny regions, compared to between $10 and $12 for other conventional solar thermal technologies.<ref name="ehren chevron">Goossens, Ehren, [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-03/chevron-using-solar-thermal-steam-at-enhanced-oil-recovery-plant.html "Chevron Uses Solar-Thermal Steam to Extract Oil in California"], "Bloomberg", October 3, 2011</ref>

Enclosed troughs are currently being used at the [[Miraah]] solar facility in [[Oman]]. In November 2017, GlassPoint announced a partnership with [[Aera Energy]] that would bring parabolic troughs to the [[South Belridge Oil Field]], near [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]], California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mailchi.mp/glasspoint/belridge-solar-announcement|title=GlassPojnt Announces Belridge Solar Project}}</ref>