Stationary concentrating reflector cum tracking absorber solar energy collector: optical design characteristics

This article presents an analysis of the optical design characteristics of a stationary reflecting/tracking absorber solar energy collector. This type of collector consists of a segment of a spherical mirror placed in a stationary position facing the sun, but having a linear absorber that can track the image of the sun by a simple pivoting motion about the center of curvature of the reflector. The optical characteristics of this system and the axial variation of its concentration ratio are developed to provide information for the engineering design and sizing of this type of solar energy collector system.