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Freeform optics has great potential for delivering highly effective solar concentrators and lighting systems, but in some cases it can be challenging to implement. A numerical method is described for calculating 3D flowline concentrator shapes in a way that provides complete freedom over the specification of arbitrary source and receiver objects. This lends the approach to a range of practical design problems involving asymmetric systems, non-lambertian and extended light sources. The method reproduces the hyperbolic and hyperparabolic concentrator geometries identified in the literature, operating close to the thermodynamic limit of concentration. A practical example is given in the optimisation of a secondary concentrator for a concentrator photovoltaic array receiving light from a field of heliostats. The secondary improves the overall capture efficiency of the photovoltaic receiver at noon, and is expected to deliver further improvement at other times of day.
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Alex G. Lehmann, Nicholas Ekins-Daukes, Mark Keevers, "Numerical flowline concentrator design in 3D," Proc. SPIE 11120, Nonimaging Optics: Efficient Design for Illumination and Solar Concentration XVI, 111200A (9 September 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2526849