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.

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.

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 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.

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 MOCAM: A 4k × 4k CCD Mosaic for the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Prime Focus

1995 ◽  
Vol 167 ◽  
pp. 213-220
Author(s):  
J. C. Cuillandre ◽  
Y. Melliers ◽  
R. Murowinski ◽  
D. Crampton ◽  
G. Luppino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focal Plane ◽  
San Diego ◽  
Ccd Camera ◽  
Astronomical Observatory ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
On Line ◽  
Readout Noise ◽  
The University ◽  
Filter Wheel ◽  
Better Than

MOCAM is a wide field CCD camera, currently nearing completion, which will be offered to the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) user community in 1995. The project is a collaboration between the CFHT, the Dominion Astronomical Observatory (DAO, Canada), the Institut des Sciences de l'Univers (INSU, France), Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Toulouse (LAT, France) and the University of Hawaii (UH). In the interests of producing a reliable and effective camera in the shortest time, it was decided to use existing technologies rather than innovative ones. Two-edge buttable 2048 × 2048 15 μm pixel CCDs were obtained from the LORAL aerospace foundry, based on a mask designed by J. Geary at Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO). They are mounted in a dewar designed by G. Luppino (UH); the focal plane mounting keeps the mosaic flat to within two pixels and the CCDs are aligned to within two pixels. A mechanical interface designed and fabricated by the DAO holds a 150 mm shutter and a filter wheel which has a positioning repeatability better than five μm.The four CCDs are operated in parallel by a San Diego GenIII controller adapted by LAT. The mosaic is read out in seven minutes and a single 33 Mb FITS file is generated to enable convenient on-line preprocessing. The user will control the system through a single CFHT Pegasus environment session. The camera field is 14′ × 14′ with a 0.″2 pixel sampling and the readout noise is less than seven electrons. The scientific goals of the initiators of the project are studies of distant clusters, deep galaxy counts and quasars surveys.

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.

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.

Error Analysis of the Radiative Power Determined From Flux Distributions Measured With a Camera in a Xe Arc Lamp-Based Solar Simulator

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivo Alxneit
Keyword(s):  
Flux Distribution ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Flux Measurement ◽  
Ccd Camera ◽  
Radiation Characteristic ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
Optical Elements ◽  
Radiative Power ◽  
Paul Scherrer

The CCD camera-based flux measurement at Paul Scherrer Institute's (PSI) high flux solar simulator (HFSS) is influenced by a spatially variable spectrum of the concentrated radiation characteristic for arc lamp-based solar simulators. This results in a substantial error in the radiative power determined by integration of the flux distribution. This systematic error is assessed by numerically modeling the response of the CCD camera in use. Measured spectra of concentrated radiation obtained at different points in the flux distribution, measured transmission characteristics of all optical elements, and published data for the spectral sensitivity of the CCD chip are applied in the model. The response of a water calorimeter is used as baseline case. It is shown that the magnitude of the error depends strongly on the region analyzed, i.e., on aperture size, on the wavelength band analyzed, and, unfortunately, also on the number of lamps in operation. A relative error in the range of 10–30% is observed if an aperture with 1 cm in diameter covering the region of peak concentration is considered. It will be shown that the error arises due to the fact that a photon counter (CCD camera) is used to determine the thermal power.

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