First-Order Design Variables For Concentrating Solar Collectors

Jan F. Kreider

doi:10.1117/12.7972397

1 August 1979 First-Order Design Variables For Concentrating Solar Collectors

Jan F. Kreider

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 18, Issue 4, 184414 (August 1979). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.7972397

Abstract

Solar flux is inherently of very high thermodynamic quality (low entropy). However, the terrestrial use of solar heat at high temperature can be achieved only by means of solar concentrators of the reflecting or refracting type. It is the purpose of this paper to describe the three major design variables of concentrators optical efficiency, heat loss coefficient and heat removal factor. The optical efficiency no embodies many important concentrator properties including mirror surface reflectance and slope, tracking accuracy, receiver transmittance and adsorptance and solar beam incidence angle effects. The heat loss coefficient Uc of a solar concentrator represents its thermal performance and depends upon the relative magnitudes of convection and conduction flux rates, surface emittances of receiver components and operating temperature relative to the environment. The third design parameter-the heat removal factor FR-is a measure of the efficiency of the receiver when viewed as a heat exchanger. Its value is governed by working fluid properties and flow rates as well as by the thermal properties of the receiver material. The principal factors which determine the value of no, Uc and FR are described in the paper.

Citation Download Citation

Jan F. Kreider "First-Order Design Variables For Concentrating Solar Collectors," Optical Engineering 18(4), 184414 (1 August 1979). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.7972397

Published: 1 August 1979

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available