Fundamentals and techniques of nonimaging optics. Final report
A new formalism for analyzing nonimaging systems in terms of a quantity called the geometrical vector flux was developed and a number of new ideal concentrator designs were discovered and tested. Work has been done to extend this formalism with the goal of applying the analysis to non-ideal concentrators. Both phase space and vector flux representations for traditional concentrators have been generated. Our understanding of the thermodynamically derived relationship between concentration and cavity effects has led to the design of new lossless and low loss concentrators for absorbers with gaps. Quantitative measurements of the response of real collector systems and the distribution of diffuse insolation shows that in most cases performance exceeds predictions in solar applications. Under the most recent phase of this effort a number of significant advances have been made. Most important is the formal extension of the Brightness Theorem in geometrical optics (the analogue of Liouville's theorem) to the physical optics domain. This work has been used to show that the claims advanced for several proposed holographic concentrators must be carefully evaluated and in many cases cannot be true. Other theoretical work introduced the concept of a pseudopotential satisfying Laplace's equation and certain well-defined boundary conditions from which the vector flux field J can be derived. Applications work has included new efforts in secondary concentrator design for both photovoltaic and thermal systems. In the latter case the first test of the trumpet or flow line concentrator was carried out. Computer modeling techniques both for optical design evaluation using improved raytracing methods and for materials parameters optimization (e.g., selective surfaces) were developed.
- Research Organization:
- Chicago Univ., IL (USA). Enrico Fermi Inst.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-80ER10575
- OSTI ID:
- 6283203
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/10575-T2; ON: DE85004922
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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