Working package WP13 (JRB) addresses research to establish the know-how on how to achieve ultra-high concentration in CSP facilities. This field has recently received an increased interest e.g. in research projects addressing solar gas turbine (EU Projects: SOLHYCO, SOLUGAS) or in application of solar powered thermo-chemical cycles (EU Projects: HYCICLE , HYDROSOL) where temperature above 1000°C are required. One very promising concept is the use of secondary concentrators that re-concentrate the sunlight in a second stage close to the absorber surface.
- A joint approach on how to design and test secondary concentrators, based on the different approaches followed by the partners in the past, is addressed in this working package.
Another important parameter for the design and evaluation of high flux concentrators is the ‘sunshape’ (angular distribution of solar irradiation). This quantity is rarely measured and it does not exist a common way to measure it accurately. So the outcome of this task is expected to be:
- Development of a sunshape measurement and monitor system to investigate the sunshape in different spectral ranges and its contribution to flux density distribution and to define impact of the sunshape on the performance of some existing CSP installations.
Downloadable reports:
- Guideline for replication and installation of the developed sunshape device
(2.6 MB). - Determination of the Sunshape from Meteosat Second Generation (3.2 MB).
- Final result of secondary concentrators solar mirror testing (540 kB).
- Thermal testing of solar mirrors for secondary concentrators (2.5 MB).
- Examination of naturally weathered REFOS secondary concentrators (300 kB).
- Optimization of heliostat field layout for the beam–down optics (600 kB).
- Optimum layout of heliostat field when the tower-top receiver is provided with secondary concentrators (400 kB).
- Comprehensive software infrastructure for designing future CSP plants (200 kB).
(800 kB).