Experimental Validation of Double Paraboloid Reflection for Obtaining Quasi-Homogeneous Distribution of Concentrated Solar Flux

Gonçalo Domingos, José Carlos Garcia Pereira, Pedro Alexandre Rodrigues Rosa, José Rodríguez and Luís Guerra Rosa ()
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Gonçalo Domingos: IDMEC—Instituto de Engenharia Mecânica, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
José Carlos Garcia Pereira: Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Pedro Alexandre Rodrigues Rosa: IDMEC—Instituto de Engenharia Mecânica, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
José Rodríguez: CIEMAT—Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, PSA—Plataforma Solar de Almería, Apartado 22, 04200 Tabernas, Spain
Luís Guerra Rosa: IDMEC—Instituto de Engenharia Mecânica, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-13

Abstract: This work demonstrates that the quasi-homogeneous distribution of concentrated solar flux is achievable by using double paraboloid reflection, with a primary reflector to concentrate the sunlight, and a secondary reflector to homogenise the radiation flux. For that, three slightly different secondary reflectors were designed and manufactured, matching the specifications of the paraboloid concentrator of the SF60 solar furnace located in PSA—Plataforma Solar de Almería, which was used as primary reflector. Starting from preliminary simulations of the optical apparatus, the secondary geometries were selected and then the reflectors were manufactured from 7075-T6 aluminium alloy, using conventional and CNC machining technologies, with further processing to achieve a mirror-like finish. The results obtained from solar irradiation tests corroborate that the “double paraboloid reflection” methodology proposed in previous theoretical works seems to be technically feasible and can be a solution for obtaining homogeneously distributed fluxes of highly concentrated solar radiation.

Keywords: solar flux distribution; double paraboloid reflection; optical modelling; ray tracing simulations; Cassegrain reflector (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: 2023
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