Determining the optical quality of focusing collectors without laser ray tracing

Technical Report · Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5415024· OSTI ID:5415024

Bendt, P.; Gaul, H.; Rabl, A.

This paper describes a novel alternative to the laser ray trace technique for evaluating the optical quality of focusing solar collectors. The new method does not require any equipment beyond what is used for measuring collector efficiency; it could therefore become part of routine collector testing. The total optical errors resulting from imperfect specularity and from inaccuracies in reflector position or slope are characterized by an angular standard deviation sigma/sub optical/, the rms deviation of the reflected rays from the design direction. The method is based on the fact that the off-axis performance of a concentrator depends on sigma/sub optical/. An angular scan is performed, i.e., the collector output is measured as a function of misalignment angle over the entire range of angles for which there is measurable output (typically a few degrees). This test should be carried out on a very clear day, with receiver close to ambient temperature (if the latter conditions cannot be satisfied, appropriate corrections are necessary). The parameter sigma/sub optical/ is then determined by a least-squares fit between the measured and the calculated angular scan. We tested the method on a parabolic trough collector manufactured by Hexcel, but it is suitable for parabolic dishes as well. The method appears to be accurate enough to determine sigma/sub optical/ within about 10%.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst. (SERI), Golden, CO (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: EG-77-C-01-4042
• OSTI ID: 5415024
• Report Number(s): SERI/TR-333-359
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
OPTICS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
ALIGNMENT
EFFICIENCY
EVALUATION
INSPECTION
LEAST SQUARE FIT
OPTICAL SYSTEMS
PARABOLIC DISH COLLECTORS
PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTORS
EQUIPMENT
MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD FIT
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TESTING
FOCUSING COLLECTORS
MEASURING METHODS
141000* - Solar Collectors & Concentrators