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Optical Design of Linear Fresnel Reflector Solar Concentrators

Article  in  Energy Procedia · December 2012

DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2011.12.1194

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Procedia
Energy Procedia 00 (2011)14000–000
Energy Procedia (2012) 1960 – 1966
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

ICAEE 2011

Optical Design of Linear Fresnel Reflector Solar

Concentrators
Jia Hea，Zhongzhu Qiub, Qiming Lia,ba*,Yi Zhanga,bb*
a
Jia He，Shanghai University of Electric Power，Shanghai，200090，China
b
Zhongzhu Qiu，Shanghai University of Electric Power，Shanghai，200090，China

Abstract

Using ray track technology and geometrical analysis, this paper has presented novel design method which can be
applied to mirror elements of equal width and varying width, varying height of absorbers of linear Fresnel Reflector
Solar Concentrators(LFRSC) whose mirror elements are north-south direction. This paper also discussed the
efficiency of mirror elements, it calculated the efficiency every 5°from 30°to 150°and the conclusions gave some
parameters with reference value.

Keywords: Optical design, Photo-thermal, linear, Fresnel reflector;

1. Introduction

In recent years, as the technology developing, as a branch in solar energy utilization domain, LFRSC
develops very quickly. In some country, they have finished commercial demonstration projects. On the
Optical design of LFRSC, many scholars have done a lot of work and got a lot of achievements. DAVID
R. MILLS and GRAHAM L. MORRISON presented Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector Solar
Concentrators, there are two absorbers both two sides of mirror elements. The gap between mirror
elements, one mirror element faced another absorber, but there is no calculation formula[1]. S. S.
MATHUR, T. C. KANDPAL and B. S. NEGI presented mirror elements arrangement method and
calculation formula of LFRSC when the solar altitude angle was maximum locally, the applicability was
narrow[2][3]. R.P. Goswami , B.S. Negi b, H.K. Sehgal b and G.D. Sootha presented design method of

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +0-000-000-0000 ; fax: +0-000-000-0000 .

E-mail address: author@institute.xxx .
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +0-000-000-0000 ; fax: +0-000-000-0000 .
E-mail address: author@institute.xxx .

1876-6102 © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of 2nd International
Conference on Advances in Energy Engineering (ICAEE). Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2011.12.1194
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name/ Energy Procedia
/ Energy 14 00
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LFRSC with a triangular absorber[4]. Chunxu Du and Pu Wang presented mirror elements arrangement
method without shelter and mirror elements were east-west direction[5].This paper present a navel mirror
elements arrangement method without shelter, the method’s aim is to raise efficiency of mirror elements
and it has wide applicability.

2. The design of mirror elements without shelter of LFRSC

For the convenience of analysis, some simplifying assumptions have been made as fellow:
(1)The sun light is parallel;
(2)Ignoring the angular subtense of the sun (= 32') .
As shown in Figure1, LFRSC, all mirror elements are not shelter each other when the incident light
angle is 30°. The light, via the mirror center, is reflected to the point F. It is the same with other mirror
elements. Detailed design steps are as follows:

Fig.1. No mirror element shelter other mirror elements when the incident light angle is 30°

(1)According to the required power and local solar radiation value, we can roughly define the area of
mirror elements, in which reflectivity of mirror elements, efficiency of mirror elements, transmissivity of
glass, absorptivity of absorber and heat loss should be considered.
(2)According to the absorber’s width, the width and number of mirror elements can be defined.
(3)Taking Figure1 for example, the first assumed height of point F on the center line OF, making the
mirror element center of E4(or W4) from the point O of distance S4, S4/h between 0.9 to 1.2. The h is the
height of point F. When the value beyond 1.2, the light, via mirror elements, reach the absorber, the light
band become large, and it makes more heat loss. Theoretically, the value, lower than 0.9, is acceptable,
but it cause a waste of space.
(4)On both sides of a center line OF, mirror elements E1 and W1 were smmetrical arranged. The
calculation formula as fellow:
S0=0.5×W×[cosA1+cosA3+(sinA1+sinA3)/tan30] (1)
1962 Jia He et al.\ / Energy Procedia 14 (2012) 1960 – 1966
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Fig.2. Mirror elements spacing1

In which, S0 is the center distance of mirror elements E1 and W1, W is the width of mirror elements.
(5) r1=S0/2, r1 is the distance of mirror elements E1 and W1 center to point O. In the calculation of
angle A4, we have used arctan（h/r1）, so here is a Iterative cycle. The first time we calculate it, it need
to assume a value of r1(for example r1=W), calculating and we will get a new value of S0/2, calculating
again…until the value is a constant.
(6)Calculating the distance r2, from E2 center to point O.

Fig.3. Mirror elements spacing2

S1=0.5×W×[cosA3+cosA4+(sinA3+sinA4)/tan30] （2）
In which, S1 is center distance of mirror elements E1 and E2.
r2= r1+ S1 (3)
We have used arctan（h/r2）. So, the calculating steps is same as (5).
(7) According to (6) to calculating other mirror elements’ parameters.
(8) When we get the last mirror element’s parameters, check rn/h, if the value between 0.9 to 1.2, end!
If not, adjust the value of h, and then repeat (3)~(8).
(9) Because of symmetry，the parameters of W1~Wn are same as E1~En.

3. The efficiency of mirror elements

When discussing the efficiency of mirror elements, it assumed the solar altitude angle was 90°。
Because mirror elements, absorber and sun are not on the same line in most of time, mirror elements
must be to a certain angle, and then the light could reach absorber, at this time, mirror element and
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incident light are not vertical. So W•cosB is the effective mirror element area.This paper defined cosB as
the efficiency.

Fig.4. The efficiency of mirror element Fig.5. Calculating area

As shown in Figure5, when calculating the efficiency of mirror elements, it calculated the efficiency
every 5°from 30°to 150°(It also be seen the light change 5°) , total 13 times.
Taking the height of absorber is 5 meters for example, the width of mirror elements are 0.8 meters, 4
mirror elements each side, rn/h=2.49. The efficiency of W1~W8 are shown in figure 6.

4. The value of rn/h

The value of rn/h has been discussed in following content. Making efficiency maximum and saving the
cost are primary tasks.
When the height of absorber is 10 meters, the width of mirror elements are 0.8 meters, 4 mirror
elements each side, rn/h=1.14, the efficiency of W1~W8 be in figure 7.
When the height of absorber is 12 meters, the width of mirror elements are 0.8 meters, 4 mirror
elements each side, rn/h=0.94, the efficiency of W1~W8 be in figure 8.
When the height of absorber is 15 meters, the width of mirror elements are 0.8 meters, 4 mirror
elements each side, rn/h=0.75, the efficiency of W1~W8 be in figure 9.

Fig.6. The changing of mirror elements’ efficiency as incident light angle changing(5m)
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5. Conclusion

(1) As can be seen from the figure 6, the distance from point O is closer, the efficiency is higher. As
shown in figure 6, the lowest value of W1 is close 0.8, but W8 is less than 0.5.
(2) As shown in figure 6, the average efficiency is decreasing.
(3)The lower efficiency mirror elements are in solar radiation low time when their efficiency are
highest. Such as W1, its efficiency is highest when the incident light angle is 90°(This moment is noon).
W8 is just the opposite.
(4) As can be seen from the figure 6 to figure 9, along with the absorber’s height is higher, the
efficiency is higher.
(5) As can be seen from the figure 6 to figure 9, when the value of rn/h between 0.94 and 1.14, the
efficiency and the height of absorber are acceptable.

Fig.7. The changing of mirror elements’ efficiency as incident light angle changing(10m)
 Jia He et al.\ / Energy Procedia 14 (2012) 1960 – 1966 1965
6 Author name / Energy Procedia 00 (2011) 000–000

Fig.8. The changing of mirror elements’ efficiency as incident light angle changing(12m)

Along with the absorber’s height creasing, the cost and maintenance difficulty are all creasing, it also
require higher precision of tracking system. Considering all of these, this paper recommended the value of
rn/h being between 0.9 and 1.2.

Fig.9. The changing of mirror elements’ efficiency as incident light angle changing(15m)

Acknowledgements

This paper is partly sponsored by the fifth Key Subject of Shanghai Education Commission (Grant No.
G50304) and the third phase of undergraduate education center construction project of Shanghai
Education Commission.
1966 Jia He
Author et al.\
name / Energy
/ Energy Procedia
Procedia 00 14 (2012)
(2011) 1960 – 1966
000–000 7

References

[1] DAVID R. MILLS, GRAHAM L. Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector solar thermal powerplants. Solar Energy Vol. 68, No. 3,
pp. 263–283, 2000.
[2] S. S. MATHUR, T. C. KANDPAL and B. S. NEGI. Optical design and concentration characteristics of linear Fresnel
reflector solar concentrators—I. Mirror elements of varying width. Mgmt Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 205-219, 1991.
[3] S. S. MATHUR, T. C. KANDPAL and B. S. NEGI. Optical design and concentration characteristics of linear Fresnel
reflector solar concentrators—II. Mirror elements of equal width. Energy Convers. Mgmt Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 221-232, 1991.
[4] R.P. Goswami a, B.S. Negi b, H.K. Sehgal b and G.D. Optical designs and concentration characteristics of a linear Fresnel
reflector solar concentrator with a triangular absorber.Sootha. Solar Energy Materials 21 (1990) 237-251.
[5] Chunxu DU, Pu Wang, Zhongfang Ma and Yuting Wu. The optical geometry method of linear Fresnel reflector solar
concentrator. ACTA OPTICA SINICA 21 (2010) Vol 30,No 11.

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