Exact analytic flux distributions for two-dimensional solar concentrators

Area of Science:

• Optical Engineering
• Renewable Energy Systems
• Solar Thermal Technology

Background:

• Accurate modeling of solar flux density distribution is crucial for optimizing solar concentrator performance.
• Existing methods often rely on computationally intensive raytracing, limiting their practical application.
• Realistic solar radiance and optical error distributions present challenges for current solar flux analysis techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, physically transparent formalism for representing and evaluating flux density on solar concentrator absorbers.
• To develop solutions that eliminate the need for raytracing in solar flux distribution analysis.
• To demonstrate the versatility of the proposed method across different solar concentrator configurations.

Main Methods:

• Development of a new mathematical formalism for solar flux density representation.
• Accommodation of arbitrary solar radiance profiles and concentrator optical error distributions.
• Derivation of analytical or semi-analytical solutions, avoiding complex raytracing simulations.

Main Results:

• The presented formalism provides a physically transparent and efficient way to evaluate flux density.
• The method successfully models flux distribution for parabolic trough, Fresnel, and V-trough concentrators.
• Demonstrated applicability to both planar and tubular absorber configurations.

Conclusions:

• The new approach offers a significant advancement in the analysis of solar imaging concentrators.
• The method's ability to handle realistic conditions and diverse designs enhances its practical utility.
• This formalism provides a valuable tool for the design and optimization of solar thermal energy systems.