Structured Light Profilometry on m-PTC

Gianluca Marotta, Paola Sansoni, Franco Francini, David Jafrancesco, Maurizio De Lucia and Daniela Fontani
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Gianluca Marotta: The National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO), 50125 Florence, Italy
Paola Sansoni: The National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO), 50125 Florence, Italy
Franco Francini: The National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO), 50125 Florence, Italy
David Jafrancesco: The National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO), 50125 Florence, Italy
Maurizio De Lucia: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Daniela Fontani: The National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO), 50125 Florence, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: In concentrating solar systems, it is essential to study the optical losses of the collectors. A fundamental parameter is the intercept factor , namely, the fraction of sunrays reflected by the concentrator that reaches the receiver. Optical profilometry studies the relationship between the collector profile and the intercept factor , which influences the collection efficiency. Profilometric analyses were performed on a micro-parabolic trough collector (m-PTC), with reduced sizes and greater mirror curvature than a usual PTC. The proposed technique projects a luminous pattern (structured light) both on the collector with an opaque covering and on a flat reference plane. Measurement set-up and calibration technique were developed for m-PTC. A program coded in Python analyzed the images and reconstructs the mirror profile. The tilted reference plane was reconstructed using an original geometric model and a calibration procedure. The focal length of each parabolic section was calculated, providing information on surface defects in the mirror. An important parameter obtained was the displacement of the focus of the parabola with respect to the ideal position. Using this value, the intercept factor was estimated to be 0.89. The proposed technique was validated by comparing the results with an independent profilometric study applied to the same m-PTC.

Keywords: parabolic trough collectors; profilometry; structured light; intercept factor; optical measurement; solar energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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