Simplified calculational procedure for determining the amount of intercepted sunlight in an imaging solar concentrator
In imaging solar concentrators, the solar radiation incident on a receiver surface depends upon both the overall concentrator shape and the angular distribution of light rays (sunshape) that reach the receiver. Calculation of the amount of sunlight incident on the receiver usually requires sophisticated computer programs. A simplified calculational procedure is presented to solve this problem for both one- and two-dimensional concentrators, with the results presented in graphical form. The procedure first determines the amount of sunshape broadening resulting from optical scattering caused by reflector or glazing materials, surface slope errors, or other ''mechanical'' factors such as tracking errors or vibrations. These optical effects are combined into an effective error cone which is convoluted with measured sunshapes in order to obtain effective, broadened sunshapes. Broadened sunshapes for a variety of effective error-cone distributions are calculated and presented. It is found that when the root-mean-square (RMS) width of the effective error cone is greater than approximately two times the RMS width of the incident sunshape, the broadened sunshape can be adequately described by a circular normal distribution. A specific example is included which illustrates the calculational procedure discussed in the paper.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87185
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5868712
- Journal Information:
- J. Sol. Energy Eng.; (United States), Vol. 105:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
CIRCE (Convolution of Incident Radiation with Concentrator Errors): A computer code for the analysis of point-focus solar concentrators
Sum-of-Gaussians representation of sunshape
Related Subjects
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
CALCULATION METHODS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONFIGURATION
DATA COVARIANCES
DEFECTS
DIFFUSE SOLAR RADIATION
GRAPHS
INCIDENCE ANGLE
LIGHT SCATTERING
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
REFLECTIVE COATINGS
SOLAR SIMULATORS
SURFACE AREA
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
ANALOG SYSTEMS
COATINGS
DISTRIBUTION
EQUIPMENT
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SIMULATION
SIMULATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR FLUX
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION
141000* - Solar Collectors & Concentrators