Parabolic trough collector

A parabolic trough collector, comprising a parabolic, trough-shaped main reflector, a holding device, with a plurality of support arms for holding the main reflector, an absorber pipe, which extends along the focal line of the main reflector and in which a heat transfer medium is heated, and a base, wherein the holding device is mounted on the base so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis,

• wherein a secondary reflector is provided, which extends substantially parallel to and above or below the absorber pipe and which is formed by an elongated reflective profile,
• wherein the secondary reflector has in its cross-section a circular section and two edge lines,
• wherein the main reflector comprises a plurality of flexible main reflector modules aligned along the focal line,
• wherein the weight distribution of the main reflector modules along an aperture of the main reflector is such that, when freely suspended between the support arms of the holding device, the main reflector modules assume a parabolic shape due to the weight distribution, and
• wherein compensating elements are arranged on the underside of the main reflector modules, the width of the compensating elements not being constant along the aperture, but decreasing from the focal line to the support arms.