Testing of a prototype Fresnel-lens concentrator for thermal applications
A prototype Fresnel-lens concentrator, manufactured by E-Systems, Dallas, Texas, was tested for thermal performance at SERI's Mid-Temperature Collector Research Facility (MTCRF). This work was funded by the DOE in an effort to support development of a testing standard for concentrators. The data obtained from this testing were presented and utilized by a subcommittee of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) in the development process for the standard. Several tests were conducted on the concentrator using draft versions of the standard as guidance. Additional tests allowed but not required by the standard were conducted to determine the effect of the direct solar irradiance level on collector performance. It is the results of these additional tests that are of primary interest. The data show that non-linear heat losses cause collector efficiency to be a function of both ..delta..t/I/sub DN/ and I/sub DN/ and that the efficiency when fluid temperature is near ambient is also a function of I/sub DN/. This latter result is a characteristic unique to this collector, whereas the former holds for any collector with non-linear with heat loss.
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-77CH00178
- OSTI ID:
- 6393911
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TP-253-1893; CONF-830405-17; ON: DE83007312
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 6. annual ASME technical conference on commercial building heating and cooling applications, Orlando, FL, USA, 19 Apr 1983; Other Information: 4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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