Solar Divergence Collimators for Collector Tests
| Periodical | Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 74) |
|---|---|
| Main Theme | 5th FORUM ON NEW MATERIALS PART C |
| Edited by | Pietro VINCENZINI, Kunihito KOUMOTO, Nicola ROMEO and Mark MEHOS |
| Pages | 219-224 |
| DOI | 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AST.74.219 |
| Citation | Elisa Sani et al., 2010, Advances in Science and Technology, 74, 219 |
| Online since | October, 2010 |
| Authors | Elisa Sani, Paola Sansoni, Daniela Fontani, Franco Francini, Luca Mercatelli, David Jafrancesco |
| Keywords | Light Collimator, Non-Imaging Optics, Optical Design, Solar Concentrator, Solar Divergence, Solar Energy, Test of Optical Components |
| Price | US$ 28,- |
The use of solar divergence collimators is the key for reliable optical tests that reproduce the on-field collector operating conditions. Aiming to test small (<80 mm diameter/diagonal) and large concentrators (80-240 mm diameter/diagonal range), the collimator geometry should be evaluated because of some optical errors introduced by the need of bending the optical axis. This paper discusses the optical characteristics of the beams obtained with straight and bent collimators with solar divergence. The collimated beams are examined by ray tracing simulations, studying the aberrations as a function of bend angle, and measured in laboratory. Finally characterisation tests for sunlight concentrators of various shapes, dimensions and collection features are presented describing instrumentation, optical set-up and methodology to determine collection efficiency, image plane analysis and spot size.
