Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

An analytical and experimental evaluation of a Fresnel lens solar concentrator

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7223553

An analytical and experimental evaluation of line focusing Fresnel lenses with application potential in the 200 to 370 C range was studied. Analytical techniques were formulated to assess the solar transmission and imaging properties of a grooves down lens. Experimentation was based on a 56 cm wide, f/1.0 lens. A Sun tracking heliostat provided a nonmoving solar source. Measured data indicated more spreading at the profile base than analytically predicted, resulting in a peak concentration 18 percent lower than the computed peak of 57. The measured and computed transmittances were 85 and 87 percent, respectively. Preliminary testing with a subsequent lens indicated that modified manufacturing techniques corrected the profile spreading problem and should enable improved analytical experimental correlation.

Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Huntsville, AL (USA). George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
OSTI ID:
7223553
Report Number(s):
N-76-33011; NASA-TM-X-73333
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English