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Title: Evaluation and comparison of an adaptive method technique for improved performance of linear Fresnel secondary designs

Abstract

As a line-focus concentrating solar power (CSP) technology, linear Fresnel collectors have the potential to become a low-cost solution for electricity production and a variety of thermal energy applications. However, this technology often suffers from relatively low performance. A secondary reflector is a key component used to improve optical performance of a linear Fresnel collector. The shape of a secondary reflector is particularly critical in determining solar power captured by the absorber tube(s), and thus, the collector's optical performance. However, to the authors' knowledge, no well-established process existed to derive the optimal secondary shape prior to the development of a new adaptive method to optimize the secondary reflector shape. The new adaptive method does not assume any pre-defined analytical form; rather, it constitutes an optimum shape through an adaptive process by maximizing the energy collection onto the absorber tube. In this paper, the adaptive method is compared with popular secondary-reflector designs with respect to a collector's optical performance under various scenarios. For the first time, a comprehensive, in-depth comparison was conducted on all popular secondary designs for CSP applications. In conclusion, it is shown that the adaptive design exhibits the best optical performance.

Authors:
 [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1]
  1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1395096
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1550014
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5500-68680
Journal ID: ISSN 0306-2619
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Applied Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 208; Journal ID: ISSN 0306-2619
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; concentrating solar power; linear fresnel collector; secondary reflector; solar optics

Citation Formats

Hack, Madeline, Zhu, Guangdong, and Wendelin, Timothy J. Evaluation and comparison of an adaptive method technique for improved performance of linear Fresnel secondary designs. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.09.009.
Hack, Madeline, Zhu, Guangdong, & Wendelin, Timothy J. Evaluation and comparison of an adaptive method technique for improved performance of linear Fresnel secondary designs. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.09.009
Hack, Madeline, Zhu, Guangdong, and Wendelin, Timothy J. Wed . "Evaluation and comparison of an adaptive method technique for improved performance of linear Fresnel secondary designs". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.09.009. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1395096.
@article{osti_1395096,
title = {Evaluation and comparison of an adaptive method technique for improved performance of linear Fresnel secondary designs},
author = {Hack, Madeline and Zhu, Guangdong and Wendelin, Timothy J.},
abstractNote = {As a line-focus concentrating solar power (CSP) technology, linear Fresnel collectors have the potential to become a low-cost solution for electricity production and a variety of thermal energy applications. However, this technology often suffers from relatively low performance. A secondary reflector is a key component used to improve optical performance of a linear Fresnel collector. The shape of a secondary reflector is particularly critical in determining solar power captured by the absorber tube(s), and thus, the collector's optical performance. However, to the authors' knowledge, no well-established process existed to derive the optimal secondary shape prior to the development of a new adaptive method to optimize the secondary reflector shape. The new adaptive method does not assume any pre-defined analytical form; rather, it constitutes an optimum shape through an adaptive process by maximizing the energy collection onto the absorber tube. In this paper, the adaptive method is compared with popular secondary-reflector designs with respect to a collector's optical performance under various scenarios. For the first time, a comprehensive, in-depth comparison was conducted on all popular secondary designs for CSP applications. In conclusion, it is shown that the adaptive design exhibits the best optical performance.},
doi = {10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.09.009},
journal = {Applied Energy},
number = ,
volume = 208,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Wed Sep 13 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

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Works referenced in this record:

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Works referencing / citing this record:

A review of concentrating solar thermal collectors with and without nanofluids
journal, March 2018

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