Computer Modelling of the Optical Behavior of Homogenizers in High-Flux Solar Furnaces

José Carlos Garcia Pereira, Kaveh Rahmani and Luís Guerra Rosa
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José Carlos Garcia Pereira: Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Kaveh Rahmani: IDMEC, Instituto de Engenharia Mecânica, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Luís Guerra Rosa: IDMEC, Instituto de Engenharia Mecânica, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Solar radiation homogenizers are multi-mirror devices that try to reshape the solar radiation distribution coming from a concentrator, so that, after passing through the homogenizer, the light flux becomes as much evenly distributed as possible. The optical behavior of these multi-reflective devices is complex and still ill-understood. The geometry of the concentrator defines the features of the concentrated flux and then the characteristics of a particular homogenizer must be chosen according to the envisaged use. In this work, we developed and used optical ray-tracing software to investigate how the homogenizer’s optical output is affected by the following homogenizer’s characteristics: (i) Number of reflecting surfaces; (ii) total length; (iii) position (relative to focal plane); and (iv) tilt angle (inclination) of reflecting surfaces. The obtained results provide valuable information for the use of these optical devices and may contribute to the development of more efficient strategies for homogenization of concentrated radiation generated by high-flux solar furnaces.

Keywords: solar furnace optimization; radiation homogenizer; flux distribution; optical modelling; ray tracing simulations (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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