scholarly journals Optical Design of a Solar Dish Concentrator Based on Triangular Membrane Facets

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongcai Ma ◽  
Guang Jin ◽  
Xing Zhong ◽  
Kai Xu ◽  
Yanjie Li
Keyword(s):  
Focal Plane ◽  
Concentration Ratio ◽  
Collection Efficiency ◽  
Optical Design ◽  
Design Procedure ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Optical Performance ◽  
Space Antenna ◽  
Tracing Method

The design of a solar dish concentrator is proposed based on triangular membrane facets for space power applications. The facet concentrator approximates a parabolic surface supported by a deployable perimeter truss structure, which originates from a large aperture space antenna. For optimizing the number of facets rows and focal-diameter ratio of the concentrator, Monte Carlo ray-tracing method is utilized to determine optical performance of the concentrator, and the system root-mean-square (RMS) deviation is considered in this design procedure. A 600-facet concentrator with focal-diameter ratio of 1.1 will achieve 83.63% of radiative collection efficiency over a 15 cm radius disk located in the focal plane, with a mean solar concentration ratio exceeding 300. The study in this paper is helpful for the development of the membrane facet concentrator.

scholarly journals Solar Concentrator Consisting of Multiple Aspheric Reflectors

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 4038
Author(s):  
Guobin Cao ◽  
Hua Qin ◽  
Rajan Ramachandran ◽  
Bo Liu
Keyword(s):  
Focal Plane ◽  
Concentration Ratio ◽  
Optical Design ◽  
Pso Algorithm ◽  
Solar Concentrator ◽  
Coordinate Transformations ◽  
Swarm Optimization ◽  
Spot Radius ◽  
Design Software ◽  
Tracing Method

This paper presents an off-axis-focused solar concentrator system consisting of 190 aspheric reflectors, where the aperture radius of each reflector is 10 cm, and vertices of all reflectors are orderly arranged in the same plane. The aspheric parameters controlling the curvature of the reflectors are determined using coordinate transformations and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Based on these aspheric parameters, the light distribution of focal plane was calculated by the ray tracing method. The analyses show that the designed concentrator system has a spot radius of less than 1 cm and the concentration ratio over 3300:1 is achieved using only one reflection. The design results have been verified with the optical design software Zemax.

EFFECTS OF RECEIVER MISALIGNMENT ON THE INTERCEPT FACTOR OF PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTORS

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Muhammad Uzair ◽  
Naveed Rehman ◽  
Muhammad Asif
Keyword(s):  
Concentration Ratio ◽  
Latin Hypercube Sampling ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Optical Performance ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Online Tool ◽  
Contour Plots ◽  
Aperture Width ◽  
Parametric Analyses ◽  
Tracing Method

Abstract This study developed a methodology for determining the intercept factor (γ) and reports the effects of varying the design parameters, within realistic ranges, on the optical performance of parabolic trough collectors (PTC). The design equations account for the aperture width of the concentrator, the geometric concentration ratio, rim-angle and misalignment of the receiver, characterized by the radial and angular offsets. The Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) based ray-tracing method was used. Validation of the method was performed by comparing the results obtained by tracing a single ray with measurements obtained in a 2D drafting program. Then, parametric analyses were performed to determine the effects of changing the radial and angular offset, geometric concentration ratio and rim-angle on the percentage change in intercept factor (γΔ) with respect to the γ of a PTC with a perfectly aligned receiver. Finally, contour plots depicting the γ of various standard troughs over the range of radial and angular offsets were plotted, compared and discussed. An online tool is also presented to help designers and researchers analyze these effects quickly by providing the design parameters.

scholarly journals Monte Carlo Ray-Tracing Simulation of a Cassegrain Solar Concentrator Module for CPV

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung Jin Oh ◽  
Hyungchan Kim ◽  
Youngsun Hong
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Ray Tracing ◽  
Concentration Ratio ◽  
Collection Efficiency ◽  
Focal Length ◽  
Tracking Error ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Solar Concentrator ◽  
Acceptance Angle ◽  
Energy Applications

The concentration ratio is one of the most important characteristics in designing a Cassegrain solar concentrator since it directly affects the performance of high-density solar energy applications such as concentrated photovoltaics (CPVs). In this study, solar concentrator modules that have different configurations were proposed and their performances were compared by means of a Monte Carlo ray-tracing algorithm to identify the optimal configurations. The first solar concentrator design includes a primary parabolic concentrator, a parabolic secondary reflector, and a homogenizer. The second design, on the other hand, includes a parabolic primary concentrator, a secondary hyperbolic concentrator, and a homogenizer. Two different reflectance were applied to find the ideal concentration ratio and the actual concentration ratio. In addition, uniform rays and solar rays also were compared to estimate their efficiency. Results revealed that both modules show identical concentration ratios of 610 when the tracking error is not considered. However, the concentration ratio of the first design rapidly drops when the sun tracking error overshoots even 0.1°, whereas the concentration ratio of the second design remained constant within the range of the 0.8° tracking error. It was concluded that a paraboloidal reflector is not appropriate for the second mirror in a Cassegrain concentrator due to its low acceptance angle. The maximum collection efficiency was achieved when the f-number is smaller and the rim angle is bigger and when the secondary reflector is in a hyperboloid shape. The target area has to be rather bigger with a shorter focal length for the secondary reflector to obtain a wider acceptance angle.

Design of Compact Infrared Zoom Lens System

2012 ◽  
Vol 571 ◽  
pp. 324-327
Author(s):  
A Qi Yan ◽  
Deng Shan Wu ◽  
Hao Wang ◽  
Jian Zhong Cao ◽  
Jing Jin Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focal Plane ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Optical Design ◽  
Focal Plane Array ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Commercial Application ◽  
Zoom Lens ◽  
Lens System ◽  
Compact Design ◽  
Infrared Materials

Infrared zoom lens system with cooled focal plane array (FPA) detector is widely used in military application. Relevant information about optical design can be got easily, but research on infrared zoom lens system with low cost and high image quality for commercial application is less. This paper design a Compact infrared zoom lens system with only four lenses, using an uncooled focal plane array (FPA) with 384×288 pixels with zoom ratio 3:1. Because of large F number and less lenses, transmission of the whole zoom system is greatly improved. NETD and MRTD of infrared system will be satisfying by this compact design. There is no special surface such as diffractive surface, HOE in zoom lens system, and only Ge and Znse infrared materials are chosen which result in lower production cost of infrared zoom lens system for commercial applications.

Pulsar–black hole binaries as a window on quantum gravity

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1743004 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Estes ◽  
Michael Kavic ◽  
Matthew Lippert ◽  
John H. Simonetti
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Gravity ◽  
Laser Interferometer ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Mean Square Deviation ◽  
Space Antenna ◽  
Gravitational Effects ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Black Hole Binaries ◽  
Laser Interferometer Space Antenna ◽  
Square Kilometer Array

Pulsars (PSRs) are some of the most accurate clocks found in nature, while black holes (BHs) offer a unique arena for the study of quantum gravity. As such, PSR–BH binaries provide ideal astrophysical systems for detecting effects of quantum gravity. With the success of aLIGO and the advent of instruments like the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) and Evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA), the prospects for discovery of such PSR–BH binaries are very promising. We argue that PSR–BH binaries can serve as ready-made testing grounds for proposed resolutions to the BH information paradox. We propose using timing signals from a PSR beam passing through the region near a BH event horizon as a probe of quantum gravitational effects. In particular, we demonstrate that fluctuations of the geometry outside a BH lead to an increase in the measured root-mean-square deviation of arrival times of PSR pulsar traveling near the horizon.

Optical Analysis of a Heliostat Array With Linked Tracking

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Dunham ◽  
R. Kasetty ◽  
A. Mathur ◽  
W. Lipiński
Keyword(s):  
Concentration Ratio ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Solar Concentrator ◽  
Optical Performance ◽  
Optical Analysis ◽  
Optical Efficiency ◽  
The North ◽  
The Individual ◽  
East West

The optical performance of a novel solar concentrator consisting of a 400 spherical heliostat array and a linked two-axis tracking system is analyzed using the Monte Carlo ray-tracing technique. The optical efficiency and concentration ratio are compared for four different heliostat linkage configurations, including linkages of 1 × 1, 1 × 2, 2 × 2, 4 × 4, and 5 × 5 heliostats for 7-hour operation and the selected months of June and December. The optical performance of the concentrator decreases with the increasing number of heliostats in the individual groups due to increasing optical inaccuracies. In June, the best-performing linked configuration, in which 1 heliostat in the east-west direction and 2 heliostats in the north-south direction are linked, provides a monthly-averaged 7-hour optical efficiency and average concentration ratio of 79% and 511 suns, respectively. In December, the optical efficiency and the average concentration ratio decreases to 61% and 315 suns, respectively.

Optical performance measurements of large IR focal plane arrays for GOES

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica M. Coakley ◽  
Gregory D. Berthiaume ◽  
E. J. Ringdahl ◽  
D. L. Mooney ◽  
Danette P. Ryan-Howard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focal Plane ◽  
Focal Plane Arrays ◽  
Optical Performance ◽  
Performance Measurements

scholarly journals Effect of Discrete Levels Width Error on the Optical Performance of the Diffractive Binary Lens

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Manal Alshami ◽  
Mohamed Fawaz Mousselly ◽  
Anas Wabby
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Optical Design ◽  
Thin Film Deposition ◽  
Film Deposition ◽  
Optical Performance ◽  
Design Code ◽  
Point Spread ◽  
Fabrication Errors ◽  
Spread Function ◽  
Peak Value

The effects of discrete levels width error developed by thin film deposition on the optical performance of diffractive binary germanium lens with four discrete levels are investigated using nonsequential mode in the optical design code ZEMAX. The thin film deposition technique errors considered are metallic mask fabrication errors. The peak value of the Point Spread Function (PSF) was used as criterion to show the effect of discrete levels width error on the optical performance of the four-level binary germanium lens.

Thermal modelling of low concentrator photovoltaic systems

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.D. Gerber ◽  
M.A. Benecke ◽  
F.J. Vorster ◽  
E.E. Van Dyk
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Management ◽  
Concentration Ratio ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Optical Design ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Effective Concentration ◽  
Thermal Transfer ◽  
System A ◽  
Thermal Management System ◽  
Operating Lifetime

Efficient thermal management of low concentrator photovoltaic (LCPV) systems will allow maximizing of the power output and may also substantially prolong operating lifetime. For this reason, it is necessary to develop a thorough understanding of the thermal transfer and dissipation mechanisms associated with an LCPV system. The LCPV system under consideration uses a 7-facet reflector optical design, providing a geometric concentration ratio of approximately 4.85. The LCPV system succeeded in increasing the short circuit current from 1A to 5.6A, demonstrating an effective concentration ratio of approximately 4.75. LCPV system temperatures in excess of 80°C were recorded without a thermal management system. A basic thermal model was developed and assessed under various environmental conditions. The effectiveness of a heat-sink, which reduced the temperature difference between the LCPV receiver temperature and the ambient temperature by 37.5%, was also evaluated. The results discussed in this paper will assist the future development of techniques aimed at reducing the high temperatures associated with LCPV systems.

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