Operational Performance of the University of Minnesota 45 kWe High-Flux Solar Simulator

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine R. Krueger ◽  
Wojciech Lipiński ◽  
Jane H. Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Focal Plane ◽  
Operational Performance ◽  
High Flux ◽  
University Of Minnesota ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
Circular Area ◽  
Peak Flux ◽  
Radiative Power ◽  
Average Flux ◽  
The University

The University of Minnesota's high flux simulator delivers radiative power of approximately 9.2 kW over a Ø60 mm circular area located in the focal plane, corresponding to an average flux of 3200 kW m−2, with a peak flux of 7300 kW m−2.

Operational Performance of the University of Minnesota 45kWe High-Flux Solar Simulator

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine R. Krueger ◽  
Wojciech Lipiński ◽  
Jane H. Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Focal Plane ◽  
Flux Distribution ◽  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Ccd Camera ◽  
Optical Filters ◽  
High Flux ◽  
University Of Minnesota ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
The University

This paper presents measured performance of the University of Minnesota’s 45 kWe indoor high-flux solar simulator. The simulator consists of seven radiation units, each comprised of a 6.5 kWe xenon short arc lamp coupled to a reflector in the shape of a truncated ellipsoid of revolution. Data include flux distribution at the focal plane for all seven radiation units operating in tandem and for individual radiation units. The flux distribution is measured optically by acquiring the image of radiation reflected from a Lambertian target with a CCD camera equipped with neutral density optical filters. The CCD camera output is calibrated to irradiation using a circular foil heat flux gage. It is shown that accurate calibration of the heat flux gage must account for its response to the spectral characteristics of the radiation source. The simulator delivers radiative power of approximately 9.2 kW over a 60-mm diameter circular area located in the focal plane, corresponding to an average flux of 3.2 MW m−2, with a peak flux of 7.3 MW m−2.

Design of a New 45 kWe High-Flux Solar Simulator for High-Temperature Solar Thermal and Thermo-Chemical Research

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine R. Krueger ◽  
Jane H. Davidson ◽  
Wojciech Lipin´ski
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Focal Plane ◽  
Flux Distribution ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Optimized Design ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Chemical Research ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
Peak Flux ◽  
The Common

In this paper, we present a systematic procedure to design a solar simulator for high-temperature concentrated solar thermal and thermo-chemical research. The 45 kWe simulator consists of seven identical radiation units of common focus, each comprised of a 6.5 kWe xenon arc lamp close-coupled to a precision reflector in the shape of a truncated ellipsoid. The size and shape of each reflector is optimized by a Monte Carlo ray tracing analysis to achieve multiple design objectives, including high transfer efficiency of radiation from the lamps to the common focal plane and desired flux distribution. Based on the numerical results, the final optimized design will deliver 7.5 kW over a 6-cm diameter circular disc located in the focal plane, with a peak flux approaching 3.7 MW/m2.

A Novel 50kW 11,000 suns High-Flux Solar Simulator Based on an Array of Xenon Arc Lamps

2006 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Petrasch ◽  
Patrick Coray ◽  
Anton Meier ◽  
Max Brack ◽  
Peter Häberling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Design ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
Radiative Fluxes ◽  
Solar Systems ◽  
High Temperature Materials ◽  
Radiative Power ◽  
Thermochemical Processing ◽  
Average Flux ◽  
Circular Target

A novel high-flux solar simulator, capable of delivering over 50kW of radiative power at peak radiative fluxes exceeding 11,000 suns, is operational at the Paul Scherner Institute. It comprises an array of ten Xe arcs, each close-coupled with ellipsoidal specular reflectors of common focus. Its optical design, main engineering features, and operating performance are described. The Monte Carlo ray-tracing technique is applied to optimize the geometrical configuration for maximum source-to-target transfer efficiency of radiative power. Calorimeter measurements indicated an average flux of 6800kW∕m2 over a 60-mm-diameter circular target, which corresponds to stagnation temperatures above 3300K. This research facility simulates the radiation characteristics of highly concentrating solar systems and serves as an experimental platform for investigating the thermochemical processing of solar fuels and for testing advanced high-temperature materials.

Secondary Concentrators to Achieve High Flux Radiation With Metal Halide Solar Simulators

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Dong ◽  
Graham J. Nathan ◽  
Zhiwei Sun ◽  
Peter J. Ashman ◽  
Dahe Gu
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Focal Plane ◽  
Metal Halide ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Surface Reflectance ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Peak Flux ◽  
Average Flux ◽  
Lamp System ◽  
Metal Halide Lamps

This paper presents assessments of the sensitivity of the performance of high flux solar simulators to the key variables of conical secondary concentrators for metal halide lamps, which offer complementary benefits compared with xenon arc lamps. The assessment is performed for both a single-lamp configuration and a seven-lamp array, each lamp close-coupled with its own elliptical reflector, and then aligned with a common conical secondary concentrator. The simulation of heat flux from both the single- and the seven-lamp systems was performed with the Monte Carlo ray-tracing code, which was validated with the experimental results from the single-lamp system. The calculated heat flux at the focal plane agrees with the measured peak flux to within 5% and to within 13% of the measured half width. Calculated results also show that the addition of the secondary concentrator to the single-lamp system can increase the peak flux by 294% and the average flux by up to 93% within a target of 100 mm in diameter, with a corresponding reduction in total power by 15%. The conical secondary concentrator is less effective for a seven-lamp system, increasing the peak and average fluxes by 87.3% and 100%, respectively, within 100 mm diameter focal plane, with a corresponding reduction in total power by 48%. The model was then used to assess the sensitivity of the geometry of the secondary concentrators for both the single- and seven-lamp systems. The results show that the average heat flux is sensitive to the surface reflectance of the secondary concentrator, with the average flux decreasing almost linearly with the surface reflectance. The presence of the secondary cone greatly reduces the sensitivity of the concentrated heat flux to misalignment of the tilting angle of the elliptical reflector relative to the arc.

Design of a New 45 kWe High-Flux Solar Simulator for High-Temperature Solar Thermal and Thermochemical Research

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. R. Krueger ◽  
J. H. Davidson ◽  
W. Lipiński
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Focal Plane ◽  
Flux Distribution ◽  
Circular Disk ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Optimized Design ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
Peak Flux ◽  
The Common

In this paper, we present a systematic procedure to design a solar simulator for high-temperature concentrated solar thermal and thermochemical research. The 45 kWe simulator consists of seven identical radiation units of common focus, each comprised of a 6.5 kWe xenon arc lamp close-coupled to a precision reflector in the shape of a truncated ellipsoid. The size and shape of each reflector is optimized by a Monte Carlo ray tracing analysis to achieve multiple design objectives, including high transfer efficiency of radiation from the lamps to the common focal plane and desired flux distribution. Based on the numerical results, the final optimized design will deliver 7.5 kW over a 6 cm diameter circular disk located in the focal plane, with a peak flux approaching 3.7 MW/m2.

Description and Characterization of a 114-kWe High-Flux Solar Simulator

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shunzhou Chu ◽  
Fengwu Bai ◽  
Fuliang Nie ◽  
Zhifeng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Focal Plane ◽  
Radiation Power ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Mapping Method ◽  
Stagnation Temperature ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Power Module ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract A high-flux solar simulator is essential for evaluating solar thermal components under controlled and adjustable flux input conditions. This study presents a newly built high-flux solar simulator composed of 19 individual units. Each unit includes a xenon short-arc lamp (each consuming up to 6 kW electricity power) coupled with a truncated ellipsoidal reflector, a cooling blower, and a power module. The power module yields a current in the range of 50–160 A. The number of lamps in use is flexible, which allows for a wide range of radiation flux (10%–100%) on the focal plane. The radiation power, peak value, flux distribution on the circular target plane, and conversion efficiency are evaluated based on a flux mapping method. The results indicate that the proposed solar simulator is capable of achieving thermal power of 23.3 kW, peak flux in excess of 1.78 MW/m2, a stagnation temperature exceeding 2360 °C, and average irradiance of 773.4 kW/m2 on the focal plane (diameter of 260 mm). The electro-thermal conversion efficiency of the simulator is 35.7%. A ray-tracing method was employed, and the simulation results were found to be in good agreement with those in the experiments. An experimental test of a volumetric ceramic receiver was conducted, and the results indicate the availability and applicability of the high-flux solar simulator when carrying out studies about solar receivers.

A New 75 kW High-Flux Solar Simulator for High-Temperature Thermal and Thermochemical Research

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Hirsch, ◽  
P. v. Zedtwitz, and ◽  
T. Osinga ◽  
J. Kinamore ◽  
A. Steinfeld
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Optical Design ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
Experimental Platform ◽  
Radiative Power ◽  
Thermochemical Processes ◽  
And Performance

A new high-flux solar simulator, capable of delivering up to 75 kW of continuous radiative power at peak fluxes exceeding 4250 kW/m2, is operational at the ETH-Zurich. Its optical design and performance are described. This unique facility serves principally as an experimental platform for investigating thermal and thermochemical processes at temperatures up to 3000°K.

Numerical Characterization of a High Flux Solar Simulator Using Forward and Inverse Methods

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa Abuseada ◽  
Nesrin Ozalp
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Ray Tracing ◽  
Focal Plane ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
New Approach ◽  
First Order ◽  
Numerical Characterization ◽  
Tracing Method

Abstract The numerical characterization of a 10 kWe xenon arc high flux solar simulator is thoroughly presented and performed using two approaches: a forward Monte Carlo ray tracing (MCRT) method and an inverse ray tracing method. Experimental characterization was previously performed for the solar simulator using an indirect flux mapping technique, where the experimental heat flux distribution was obtained at the focal plane and additional 12 planes away from the simulator. For the first numerical characterization method, an in-house MCRT code was used to determine the shape of the xenon arc to best model the simulator. It was determined that an isotropic volumetric source consisting of a hemisphere of 1 mm radius that is attached to a cylinder of 1 mm in radius and 10 mm in length well described the experimental results obtained. The in-house code was then used to generate heat flux maps similar to that obtained experimentally and determine the intensity at the focal plane to be used by the inverse ray tracing method presented for its validation. For the inverse method, intensity interpolation schemes of zeroth and first-order were examined in addition to different solution strategies. It is shown that a first-order interpolation scheme unnecessary complicates the inverse problem, leading to larger errors. In addition, a new approach of constraining the formulated system of equations with an equality constraint that works by eliminating intensity values not tracing back to the ellipsoidal reflector is proposed. This new approach provided intensity values with reduced percentage errors.

scholarly journals Design, Modeling, and Characterization of a 10 kWe Metal Halide High Flux Solar Simulator

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan P. Siegel ◽  
Jeffrey P. Roba
Keyword(s):  
Metal Halide ◽  
Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Normal Vector ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Hardware Cost ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
Peak Flux ◽  
Optical Flux

We present the design and characterization of a high flux solar simulator (HFSS) based on metal halide lamps and built from commercially available components. The HFSS that we present was developed to support the evaluation of a solar thermochemical reactor prototype. The HFSS consists of an array of four independent lamp/reflector modules aimed at a common target location. Each module contains one 2500 We lamp and one electroformed ellipsoidal reflector having an interfocal distance of 813 mm. The modules are oriented with an angle relative to the target surface normal vector of 24.5 deg. Design simulations predicted that the peak flux of this HFSS would be 2980 kWth/m2, with a total power delivered to a 6-cm target of 3.3 kWth, for a transfer efficiency of 33.3%. Experimental characterization of the HFSS using optical flux mapping and calorimetry showed that the peak flux at the focal plane reached 2890±170 kWth/m2, while the total power delivered was 3.5±0.21 kWth for a transfer efficiency of 35.3%. The HFSS was built at a material cost of ∼$2700.00/module and a total hardware cost of ∼$11,000.00 for the four-lamp array. A seven-lamp version of this HFSS is predicted to deliver 5.6 kWth to a 6 cm diameter target at a peak flux of 4900 kWth/m2 at a hardware cost of ∼$19,000.00 ($3400.00/kWth delivered, $1100.00/kWe).

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