Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors

Izuchukwu Francis Okafor

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12

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Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors

Izuchukwu Francis Okafor

Received: 23 February 2019 Accepted: 9 April 2019 Published: 28 October 2019

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Abstract

Linear Fresnel solar collector is a focusing concentrator suitable for direct steam generation, industrial process heat, and solar space cooling system and hot water generation for different uses. The optical design and performance simulations, experimental and numerical studies on linear Fresnel solar collector were reviewed. Studies on the optical designs and ray-tracing simulations results indicated non-uniform solar flux distributions on the receiver absorber surface. The optical quality of LFC is low due to its higher incidence angle and the cosine factor. Studies on optimizing the optical errors that affects the optical performance of the LFC are lacking in the literature. Ray tracing results at 0o incidence angle indicated three different optical losses-geometric configuration, material properties and focus errors losses. Studies on the lateral drift and uncertainty of the direction of the reflected rays, which adversely affect the concentration factor of the LFC are lacking in the literature. The optical performance of a LFC system can be improved through an optimized optical design - mirrors separation, shapes, width and their orientation.

DOI	10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12
Published in	International Journal of Systems Engineering (Volume 3, Issue 1, June 2019)
Page(s)	9-16
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Linear Focusing Solar Collector, Optical Design, Performance Simulations, Optical Errors

References

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Izuchukwu Francis Okafor. (2019). Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors. International Journal of Systems Engineering, 3(1), 9-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12

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ACS Style

Izuchukwu Francis Okafor. Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors. Int. J. Syst. Eng. 2019, 3(1), 9-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12

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AMA Style

Izuchukwu Francis Okafor. Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors. Int J Syst Eng. 2019;3(1):9-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12,
  author = {Izuchukwu Francis Okafor},
  title = {Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors},
  journal = {International Journal of Systems Engineering},
  volume = {3},
  number = {1},
  pages = {9-16},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijse.20190301.12},
  abstract = {Linear Fresnel solar collector is a focusing concentrator suitable for direct steam generation, industrial process heat, and solar space cooling system and hot water generation for different uses. The optical design and performance simulations, experimental and numerical studies on linear Fresnel solar collector were reviewed. Studies on the optical designs and ray-tracing simulations results indicated non-uniform solar flux distributions on the receiver absorber surface. The optical quality of LFC is low due to its higher incidence angle and the cosine factor. Studies on optimizing the optical errors that affects the optical performance of the LFC are lacking in the literature. Ray tracing results at 0o incidence angle indicated three different optical losses-geometric configuration, material properties and focus errors losses. Studies on the lateral drift and uncertainty of the direction of the reflected rays, which adversely affect the concentration factor of the LFC are lacking in the literature. The optical performance of a LFC system can be improved through an optimized optical design - mirrors separation, shapes, width and their orientation.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors
AU  - Izuchukwu Francis Okafor
Y1  - 2019/10/28
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12
T2  - International Journal of Systems Engineering
JF  - International Journal of Systems Engineering
JO  - International Journal of Systems Engineering
SP  - 9
EP  - 16
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-4230
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12
AB  - Linear Fresnel solar collector is a focusing concentrator suitable for direct steam generation, industrial process heat, and solar space cooling system and hot water generation for different uses. The optical design and performance simulations, experimental and numerical studies on linear Fresnel solar collector were reviewed. Studies on the optical designs and ray-tracing simulations results indicated non-uniform solar flux distributions on the receiver absorber surface. The optical quality of LFC is low due to its higher incidence angle and the cosine factor. Studies on optimizing the optical errors that affects the optical performance of the LFC are lacking in the literature. Ray tracing results at 0o incidence angle indicated three different optical losses-geometric configuration, material properties and focus errors losses. Studies on the lateral drift and uncertainty of the direction of the reflected rays, which adversely affect the concentration factor of the LFC are lacking in the literature. The optical performance of a LFC system can be improved through an optimized optical design - mirrors separation, shapes, width and their orientation.
VL  - 3
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Izuchukwu Francis Okafor

National Centre for Energy Research and Development, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka, Nigeria

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APA Style

Izuchukwu Francis Okafor. (2019). Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors. International Journal of Systems Engineering, 3(1), 9-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12

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ACS Style

Izuchukwu Francis Okafor. Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors. Int. J. Syst. Eng. 2019, 3(1), 9-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12

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AMA Style

Izuchukwu Francis Okafor. Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors. Int J Syst Eng. 2019;3(1):9-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12,
  author = {Izuchukwu Francis Okafor},
  title = {Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors},
  journal = {International Journal of Systems Engineering},
  volume = {3},
  number = {1},
  pages = {9-16},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijse.20190301.12},
  abstract = {Linear Fresnel solar collector is a focusing concentrator suitable for direct steam generation, industrial process heat, and solar space cooling system and hot water generation for different uses. The optical design and performance simulations, experimental and numerical studies on linear Fresnel solar collector were reviewed. Studies on the optical designs and ray-tracing simulations results indicated non-uniform solar flux distributions on the receiver absorber surface. The optical quality of LFC is low due to its higher incidence angle and the cosine factor. Studies on optimizing the optical errors that affects the optical performance of the LFC are lacking in the literature. Ray tracing results at 0o incidence angle indicated three different optical losses-geometric configuration, material properties and focus errors losses. Studies on the lateral drift and uncertainty of the direction of the reflected rays, which adversely affect the concentration factor of the LFC are lacking in the literature. The optical performance of a LFC system can be improved through an optimized optical design - mirrors separation, shapes, width and their orientation.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Optical Design and Performance Analysis of Linear Focusing Solar Thermal Collectors
AU  - Izuchukwu Francis Okafor
Y1  - 2019/10/28
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12
T2  - International Journal of Systems Engineering
JF  - International Journal of Systems Engineering
JO  - International Journal of Systems Engineering
SP  - 9
EP  - 16
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-4230
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijse.20190301.12
AB  - Linear Fresnel solar collector is a focusing concentrator suitable for direct steam generation, industrial process heat, and solar space cooling system and hot water generation for different uses. The optical design and performance simulations, experimental and numerical studies on linear Fresnel solar collector were reviewed. Studies on the optical designs and ray-tracing simulations results indicated non-uniform solar flux distributions on the receiver absorber surface. The optical quality of LFC is low due to its higher incidence angle and the cosine factor. Studies on optimizing the optical errors that affects the optical performance of the LFC are lacking in the literature. Ray tracing results at 0o incidence angle indicated three different optical losses-geometric configuration, material properties and focus errors losses. Studies on the lateral drift and uncertainty of the direction of the reflected rays, which adversely affect the concentration factor of the LFC are lacking in the literature. The optical performance of a LFC system can be improved through an optimized optical design - mirrors separation, shapes, width and their orientation.
VL  - 3
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download