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).

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.

scholarly journals Characterization of a New 10 kWe High Flux Solar Simulator Via Indirect Radiation Mapping Technique

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa Abuseada ◽  
Cédric Ophoff ◽  
Nesrin Ozalp
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Oxide Semiconductor ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Mapping Technique ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
A New Technique

This paper presents characterization of a new high flux solar simulator consisting of a 10 kW Xenon arc via indirect heat flux mapping technique for solar thermochemical applications. The method incorporates the use of a heat flux gauge (HFG), single Lambertian target, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera, and three-axis optical alignment assembly. The grayscale values are correlated to heat flux values for faster optimization and characterization of the radiation source. Unlike previous work in heat flux characterization that rely on two Lambertian targets, this study implements the use of a single target to eliminate possible errors due to interchanging the targets. The current supplied to the simulator was varied within the range of 120–200 A to change the total power and to mimic the fluctuation in sun's irradiance. Several characteristic parameters of the simulator were studied, including the temporal instability and radial nonuniformity (RNU). In addition, a sensitivity analysis was performed on the number of images captured, which showed a threshold value of at least 30 images for essentially accurate results. The results showed that the flux distribution obtained on a 10 × 10 cm2 target had a peak flux of 6990 kWm−2, total power of 3.49 kW, and half width of 6.25 mm. The study concludes with the illustration and use of a new technique, the merging method, that allows characterization of heat flux distributions on larger areas, which is a promising addition to the present heat flux characterization techniques.

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.

Design and characterization of a high-flux non-coaxial concentrating solar simulator

2018 ◽  
Vol 145 ◽  
pp. 201-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Xiao ◽  
Xiudong Wei ◽  
Raúl Navío Gilaber ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Zengyao Li
Keyword(s):  
High Flux ◽  
Solar Simulator

A Novel High-Flux Solar Simulator Based on an Array of Xenon Arc Lamps: Optimization of the Ellipsoidal Reflector and Optical Configuration

Solar Energy ◽  
2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo¨rg Petrasch ◽  
Aldo Steinfeld
Keyword(s):  
Focal Point ◽  
Specular Reflection ◽  
Focal Length ◽  
Transfer Efficiency ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Electrode Gap ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
Power Flux ◽  
Radiant Efficiency ◽  
Circular Target

The optical characteristics of a high-flux solar simulator that comprises an array of Xe-arc lamps with ellipsoidal specular reflectors of common focus is examined using the Monte Carlo ray tracing technique. The parameters varied are arc diameter, focal length, eccentricity, truncation diameter, and angular error of specular reflection. The geometrical design of the truncated ellipsoidal reflector is optimized for maximum transfer efficiency, defined as the portion of radiation intercepted by a circular target centered at the common focal point. An array of ten 15 kW Xe-arc lamps of 9 mm electrode gap and 35% electrical-to-radiant efficiency, each closed-coupled with an ellipsoidal reflector of optimum design, should be capable of delivering an average radiative power flux exceeding 5900 kW/m2 over a 6 cm-diameter circular target, with an overall transfer efficiency of 31.9%.

Spectral Characterization of PSI’s High-Flux Solar Simulator

2011 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivo Alxneit ◽  
Henri Schmit
Keyword(s):  
Radial Distance ◽  
Wavelength Region ◽  
Spectral Characterization ◽  
Emission Lines ◽  
Characteristic Line ◽  
High Flux ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
Short Wavelength Region ◽  
Relative Contribution

In this publication, the detailed spectral characterization of the concentrated radiation of PSI’s 50 kW xenon arc lamp based solar simulator (HFSS) is reported. Spectra are presented for the range of 350–1600 nm recorded at different radial distances from the position of maximum concentration, i.e., from the center of the spot. The analysis shows that the relative intensity of the short wavelength region decreases with increasing radial distance from the center of the spot. At the same time, the relative contribution of the xenon emission lines increases. All spectra can be decomposed into a broad background described by a blackbody spectrum with a temperature of T = 6000 ± 200 K and the characteristic line spectrum of xenon.

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