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At least 19 records

High-Efficiency Modified Fresnel Reflectors for Solar-Energy Concentration

A study has been made of the Fresnel reflector and two variations of this reflector for use as solar-energy collectors. One variation is the conical Fresnel reflector in which the serrations are located on the inner surface of a cone. It is shown that this reflector can have a collection efficiency of 1.00 for any rim angle, if the proper cone angle is selected. Equations are developed for the design of the second variation which consists of a reflector plane that is not perpendicular to the incoming light rays. Segments of this reflector can be used to form a pyramidal collector which combines the desired flatness of the Fresnel reflector with the high efficiency of the conical Fresnel reflector. This collector can have an efficiency which is very close to 1.00 when a sufficient number of reflective sides are used.

REFLECTOR

Techno-economic design of a linear Fresnel reflector for industrial process heat

A techno-economic model of a Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) system using a Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR) has been developed. LFRs can deliver process heat suitable for a range of industries, including food and beverage production. This model uses an adaptive algorithm to calculate the optimal secondary reflector shape given the geometry and optical properties of the rest of the system. A ray-tracing program is used to calculate optical efficiency over a wide range of longitudinal and transversal incidence angles and subsequently evaluate the annual efficiency at a given geographical location. A specific LFR design developed by Hyperlight Energy was modelled, and this industrial partner provided a detailed cost breakdown which was used as the basis of an economic model. Combining the technical and economic data facilitates the calculation of the Levelized Cost of Heat (LCOH). The influence of a number of parameters on the annual efficiency and LCOH is explored; notable parameters include the absorber height, the number, width, and spacing of the primary mirrors, the aim point, and the secondary reflector shape and width. By identifying an optimal combination of these parameters, we reduce the LCOH of the industry partner’s system design by 9.2%, from 14.4 $\$/MWh_{th}$ to 13.0 $\$/MWh_{th}$. In comparison, the LCOH of a natural gas boiler delivering the same annual quantity of heat is 29 $\$/MWh_{th}$, which indicates that LFRs can be a competitive heat source for industrial processes.

14 SOLAR ENERGY

Experimental evaluation of a solar concentrator

A program concerned with the development of a large scale solar concentrator/collector subsystem is considered. Distributed collector approaches are related to the use of a parabolic mirror, a Fresnel reflector, and a Fresnel lens. A system description is given, taking into account questions of turbine interface selection and aspects of collector field layout. Performance sensitivity studies on particular components and parameters are discussed along with performance data which have been obtained for parabolic reflector, Fresnel lens, and Fresnel reflector concentrators. Attention is given to details regarding the design, the operation, and the status of development of the collection subsystem which is being developed.

Hastings, L. J.

Fresnel cup reflector directs maximum energy from light source

To minimize shielding and overheating, a composite Fresnel cup reflector design directs the maximum energy from a light source. It consists of a uniformly ellipsoidal end surface and an extension comprising a series of confocal ellipsoidal and concentric spherical surfaces.

Laue, E. G.

A low cost ""Air Mass 2'' solar simulator

Tungsten halogen projection lamps have integral ellipsoidal reflector, and hexagonal shaped plastic Fresnel lenses. Reflector is dichroic coated to reduce infrared content of reflected radiation. Array of lamps and lenses produces uniform collimated beam having near AM2 spectrum and intensity that can be used for testing flat plate solar collectors.

Yass, K.

On the efficient computation of Fraunhofer and Fresnel region fields radiated by reflector and planar-aperture antennas

Computation of fields radiated by parabolic reflectors and planar apertures is a problem of prime importance, and conventional approaches to performing these computations are often very time-consuming. The paper demonstrates the usefulness of a series expansion technique for efficient computation of radiated fields in both the Fraunhofer and Fresnel regions. The series approach is based on the use of the Jacobi polynomials. The application of the series method to determining the far-field pattern of the antenna from the near-field measurements for an arbitrary aperture antenna is also discussed.

Mittra, R.

Dish concentrators for solar thermal energy - Status and technology development

Comparisons are presented of point-focusing, or 'dish' solar concentrator system features, development status, and performance levels demonstrated to date. In addition to the requirements of good optical efficiency and high geometric concentration ratios, the most important future consideration in solar thermal energy dish concentrator design will be the reduction of installed and lifetime costs, as well as the materials and labor costs of production. It is determined that technology development initiatives are needed in such areas as optical materials, design wind speeds and wind loads, structural configuration and materials resistance to prolonged exposure, and the maintenance of optical surfaces. The testing of complete concentrator systems, with energy-converting receivers and controls, is also necessary. Both reflector and Fresnel lens concentrator systems are considered.

Jaffe, L. D.

Design, development and testing of an ambient lighting simulator for external illumination of a transport simulator cockpit

Researchers at the NASA-Langley Research Center several years ago began to examine concepts for a facility which could simulate the full range of lighting conditions encountered in flight. The purpose of this facility was to evaluate advanced technology display devices in a cockpit environment. The Aircraft Cockpit Ambient Lighting Simulation System (ACALSS) has been developed to meet that need. The ACALSS surrounds a wide-body part-task simulator cockpit, the Advanced Display Evaluation Cockpit, and interfaces with a VAX 11/780 computer, which is used to host both a math model of a modern transport aircraft and a solar motion model (which animates a servoed sun simulator). Several concepts were evaluated and an efficient design using an ellipsoid reflector and Fresnel luminaires was selected for implementation.

Batson, Vernon M.

Analysis of a dual-reflector antenna system using physical optics and digital computers

The application of physical-optics diffraction theory to a deployable dual-reflector geometry is discussed. The methods employed are not restricted to the Conical-Gregorian antenna, but apply in a general way to dual and even multiple reflector systems. Complex vector wave methods are used in the Fresnel and Fraunhofer regions of the reflectors. Field amplitude, phase, polarization data, and time average Poynting vectors are obtained via an IBM 360/91 digital computer. Focal region characteristics are plotted with the aid of a CalComp plotter. Comparison between the GSFC Huygens wavelet approach, JPL measurements, and JPL computer results based on the near field spherical wave expansion method are made wherever possible.

Schmidt, R. F.

Photovoltaic applications of Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC)

The use of a compound parabolic concentrator as field collector, in conjunction with a primary focusing concentrator for photovoltaic applications is studied. The primary focusing concentrator can be a parabolic reflector, an array of Fresnel mirrors, a Fresnel lens or some other lens. Silicon solar cell grid structures are proposed that increase efficiency with concentration up to 10 suns. A ray tracing program has been developed to determine energy distribution at the exit of a compound parabolic concentrator. Projected total cost of a CPC/solar cell system will be between 4 and 5 times lower than for flat plate silicon cell arrays.

Winston, R.