Environmental reflectance degradation of Central Receiver Test Facility /CRTF/ heliostats

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1117/12.958469· OSTI ID:6666811

King, D L; Myers, J E

A study has been performed to examine the effects of environmental exposure and consequent dust buildup on the reflectance of mirrors located in the heliostat field (which included 222 heliostats, composed of 25 1.22 x 1.22 meter glass mirrors) of the Central Receiver Test Facility (CRTF), constructed for evaluating solar central receiver design concepts. Nine sample mirrors were mounted adjacent to the field heliostat mirrors and removed every week for 64 weeks for laboratory reflectance measurements. A field portable reflectometer measured the actual CRTF heliostats for two and one-half years, and made it possible to quantify the rain cleaning effects on the CRTF mirrors. Measurements indicated relatively slow dust buildup rates: annual solar reflectance loss was found to be only three to five percent. Rain was proven to be an effective means for cleaning heliostat mirrors.

• Research Organization: Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
• OSTI ID: 6666811
• Report Number(s): CONF-800207-
• Journal Information: Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng.; (United States); ISSN SPIEC
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
DISTRIBUTION
DUSTS
ENGINEERING
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
EQUIPMENT
HELIOSTATS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REFLECTIVITY
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TEST FACILITIES
WAVELENGTHS