Optical Characterization Parameters for Line-focusing Solar Concentrators: Measurement Procedures and Extended Simulation Results

Abstract

According to the present standards, the optical characterization of line-focusing concentrators follows the quasi-dynamic test method, thus resulting from thermally based experimental measurements. The impact of optical deviations from design conditions on a concentrator optical performance increases with concentration ratio. Adding to this, the geometrical specificities which might be found in line-focus concentrators render important a more thorough optical characterization of such systems. The present article studies the interest and possibility of using optical simulation data as a complement to the experimental procedures followed in the optical characterization of line-focusing concentrators. Taking into account the isolated and combined impact of the most prominent optical effects in presence, the validation and accuracy of optical models is compared to that of experimental measurements. Additional optical characterization results to be obtained from such models are suggested, complementing the optical parameters previewed in the standards and enabling a higher accuracy in yield calculations.