AU767127B2 - Multi-facet concentrator of solar setup for irradiating the objects placed in a target plane with solar light - Google Patents

Multi-facet concentrator of solar setup for irradiating the objects placed in a target plane with solar light Download PDF

Info

Publication number
AU767127B2
AU767127B2 AU29300/01A AU2930001A AU767127B2 AU 767127 B2 AU767127 B2 AU 767127B2 AU 29300/01 A AU29300/01 A AU 29300/01A AU 2930001 A AU2930001 A AU 2930001A AU 767127 B2 AU767127 B2 AU 767127B2
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
concentrator
facets
solar
target plane
facet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
AU29300/01A
Other versions
AU2930001A (en
Inventor
Valerie Alekseev
Allan A. Lewandowski
Valentin Son
Vladislav Yampolskiy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Midwest Research Institute
Original Assignee
Midwest Research Institute
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/478,879 external-priority patent/US6225551B1/en
Application filed by Midwest Research Institute filed Critical Midwest Research Institute
Publication of AU2930001A publication Critical patent/AU2930001A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU767127B2 publication Critical patent/AU767127B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24SSOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S23/72Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors with hemispherical reflective surfaces
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24SSOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24SSOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S2023/87Reflectors layout
    • F24S2023/874Reflectors formed by assemblies of adjacent similar reflective facets
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Testing Resistance To Weather, Investigating Materials By Mechanical Methods (AREA)
  • Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)

Description

WO 01/51962 PCT/US01/00465 Multi-facet Concentrator of Solar Setup for Irradiating the Objects Placed in a Target Plane with Solar Light Technical Field This invention relates to solar energy technology and, in particular, to the testing of materials and articles for resistance to solar light and weather factors with the use of concentrated solar radiation.
Background Art The combined action of atmosphere and solar radiation causes irreversible changes degradation and natural aging) in various materials and articles. The most typical and important (with respect to technical and economic factors) examples of such changes are manifested as changes in the color of construction and finishing of materials, paints and varnishes, textile dyes (known as fading or discoloration), and degradation of mechanical characteristics of polymeric materials which can be demonstrated as the effect of embrittlement and destruction of polyethylene films used in hothouses after only one or two seasons.
The rate of these and other degradation processes depends on the composition of the atmosphere, temperature, and exposition to light. The exposition to light irradiation is most pronounced in the ultraviolet (UV) region of solar spectrum (290 -450 nm). The physical nature of the predominant effect of UV radiation of the Sun in material degradation processes is caused by the fact that the energy of photons of solar light in this part of spectrum corresponds to the energies of rupture of typical chemical bonds of organic and organoelement compounds (C-C; CN; C-O; C-Cl, and etc;).
Irradiation of materials with the light of the long-wave (visible and infrared) regions of solar spectrum is responsible only for the heating of materials.
The above mentioned dependence of irreversible changes in coloration of coatings and materials on the exposition to sunlight is the critical factor with regard to long-run behavior of facade coatings and panels of buildings under different complex conditions of illumination inside city distracts. Therefore, testing and certification of different materials and articles which are sensitive to irradiation with natural sunlight is of great practical and economic importance.
WO 01/51962 PCT/US01/00465 -2- At present, the simulation of irradiation conditions, particularly the simulation of multiple concentrations of radiation in combination with a set of different atmospheric factors which affect the samples, represents a complex technical problem. This is caused by a series of physical and technical factors as follows: the spectrum of even the best specially developed metal-halogen lamps simulating natural sunlight radiation shows the pronounced linear structure, particularly in UV spectral range of interest; hence, it should be expected, that mechanisms of material degradation induced by natural sunlight, and the light of the said lamps may differ significantly; the uniformity of irradiating flux density over an entire target area should be very high (within several per cent) in order to provide good reliability of testing measurements; and to decrease the factor of excessive heating of samples under test due to absorption of visible and infrared portion of solar light it is necessary to provide special measures (in addition to possible cooling of samples), in particular, to filter off visible and infrared portion of solar radiation from a flux incident onto samples.
In the prior art, a series of concentrators have been disclosed which represent the parts of solar setups for accelerated sunlight weathering tests and using concentrated solar radiation. For example, the solar setup in USSR Inventor's Certificate 139513, IPC GOIH 17/02 discloses equipment which is intended for testing materials and includes a concentrator consisting of six flat mirrors, each 2 x 1.3 m in size. These mirrors are installed in pairs on three mechanically interconnected platforms. The platforms move together and one after another along two rails put on a circle path 7 m in radius. The flat unit, 2 x 1.3 in size, with the samples under test is located in the center of this circular path. However, high materials consumption and, consequently, large weight, complex kinematics of the Sun tracking, and impossibility to attain high concentration ratios (of the order of 100) of solar radiation are obvious disadvantages of this design.
In USSR Inventor's Certificate 1746157, IPC F24J 2/42, a parabolic trough concentrator is disclosed which is a part of solar setup described. This concentrator is composed of flat facets.
However, the design of this concentrator is also characterized by complex Sun tracking and impossibility of obtaining high solar concentration ratios.
In USSR Inventor's Certificate 1800243, IPC F24J 2/42 a prototype concentrator design is disclosed which is composed of flat facets. The design of this concentrator has an important disadvantage in that an increase in concentration ratio can be achieved also only by application of complicated kinematics of rotating samples in a target plane.
3 of complicated kinematics of rotating samples in a target plane.
It should be noted that the above discussion of background art is included to explain the context of the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any of the documents or other material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in Australia at the priority date of any one of the claims of this specification.
In view of the foregoing, what is needed is an improved apparatus and technique which provides performance of accelerated testing, but which simulates the duration of the processes leading to the degradation in the main characteristics of materials (chromatic, mechanical, and others) and consequent loss of trade quality which occurs from several months to several years.
Additional advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will be obvious from the description or can be learned from practice of the invention.
15 Disclosure of Invention It would be desirable to provide an apparatus for the accelerated testing of materials.
It would also be desirable to provide an apparatus which allows one to attain :concentration ratios up to a factor of approximately 100.
20 It would further be desirable to provide an apparatus having a low variation of concentration ratio in a single device.
It would also be desirable to provide maximal uniformity of a flux density distribution of concentrated light flux over the entire area where samples under test are arranged.
It would be desirable to provide spectral characteristics of irradiating light flux as close to the UV portion of the natural sunlight spectrum of interest as possible. It would further be desirable to decrease the effect of excessive heating of objects under testing due to absorption of natural sunlight in its visible and infr~ared parts of spectrum, while observing that the share of this fraction comprises about 90% of the total flux intensity of natural sunlight.
Viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides a multi-facet concentrator of a solar setup for the exposure of objects placed in a target plane to the action of solar radiation including: a supporting frame; and a plurality of facets, each having an optical axis and a nominal focal point, the facets chosen with a plurality of spherical focusing reflective surfaces of equal focal lengths and with selective reflective coatings reflecting a spectral fraction of solar radiation, and arranged symmetrically on the supporting frame with respect to a common axis of the concentrator, wherein optical axes of the facets are directed to a single point on the optical axis of the concentrator for determining the location of the target plane, said single point being located before a nominal focus point of the concentrator and the nominal focal point of the facets to provide a uniform flux at the target plane.
The invention facilitates the achievement of required result which consists in a reduction of a time period necessary for testing the objects by a factor of up to 100 (several days instead of several months or years) with highly reliable predictability of .behaviour of objects under a wide variety of testing conditions due to creation of 15 concentrated, uniform, and selective with respect to spectrum light spot in a plane wherein the samples under tests are arranged.
g o• WO 01/51962 WO 0151962PCrIUS01/00465 -4- Briefly, to overcome the problems of the prior art methods and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a multi-face concentrator of a solar setup for exposure of objects placed in a target plane to the action of solar radiation, is provided which comprises a supporting frame and facets differing by that the facets of the concentrator are chosen with spherical focusing reflective surfaces of equal focal lengths and with selective coatings reflecting a desired spectral fraction of solar radiation, and are arranged on the supporting frame symmetricalliy with respect to the common axis of the concentrator, their optical axes being directed to the single point on the optical axis of the concentrator located before the nominal focus point of the concentrator and determining the position of arranging the target plane.
Brief Description of Drawings The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which: Figure 1 shows the block diagram demonstrating the formation of uniform flux irradiating, the samples in the target plane.
Figure 2 shows the optical scheme demonstrating the formation of uniform flux irradiating the samples in the target plane.
Figure 3 shows the photo of the experimental setup with the multi-facet selective concentrator intended for accelerated natural sunlight weathering of materials.
Figure 4 demonstrates experimental data on reflective characteristics of the concentrator facets.
Figure 5 demonstrates experimental data on distribution of flux power over a target area.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Unless specifically defined otherwise, all technical or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described.
WO 01/51962 PCT/US01/00465 Referring now to the drawing figures it is show generally in Figures I and 2, wherein like numerals represent like elements, the proposed concentrator. The concentrator contains a carrying frame 1, whereon facets 2, such as a K-8 5 grade glass substrate, are placed symmetrically with respect to the common optical axis. In this case, the optical axes of the facets are directed to a common point 3 located on an optical axis of the concentrator and disposed before nominal focal point 4 of the concentrator. The position of target plane 5, where the common area 6 is located, being determined by point 3. The common point 3 is disposed before the nominal focal point 4, to achieve less than maxim al concentration, and at a fraction of the nominal facet focal length 7 so as to retain an image with approximately the same shape as the facet 2, but with smaller size in proportion to the ratio of distance 3 to distance 4. This aiming strategy and concentrator design provides a means to vary the concentration by changing the distance of common point 3 without any changes to the concentrator except reaming the facets.
It is the overlapping of essentially equal and uniform facet images that create the uniform flux intensity on the object to be exposed.
The concentrator operates in a following mode. The incident radiation corresponding to whole solar spectrum comes to facets 2 having selective reflective coatings with predetermined characteristics. The fraction of radiation reflected from facets 2 with selective coating is directed to target plane 5. In this case, all the facets are adjusted so that the light spot with high uniformity degree of illumination is collected onto a common area 6 (Fig. 2) in a target plane In this case, it is possible to achieve the reduction of a time period for testing objects by 100 times depending 5 on specific requirements to the concentrator of solar radiation.
As follows from the above said, the proposed technical decision has a series of advantages as compared to the known designs, namely: it provides the required high concentration ratios (up to a factor of 100); and application of selective reflective coatings deposited on glass facet substrates makes it possible. on one hand, to provide high uniform reflectivity (at a level of p 0.93 0.95) in UJV part of solar spectrum in the range of 290- 450 nm and, on the other hand, effective filtering off solar radiation in visible and infrared spectral region (reflectance of the selective coating in the long-wave spectral region, p 0.05 at X :g 650 nm); thus, solar long-wave radiation incident to the faccts is to the most part transmitted through the coating and glass facet substrate and does not hit the samples under testing.
WO 01/51%2 PCT/US01/00465 -6- Example The present example relates to the realization of the invention.
Figure 3 shows the photo of the experimental setup with the multi-facet selective concentrator intended for accelerated natural sunlight weathering of materials.
Figures 4 and 5 demonstrate experimental data on reflective characteristics of the concentrator facets and distribution of flux power over a target area, respectively.
While the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, .it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims. For example, the present invention can be also effectively used in a series of other applications such as the part of solar setups for waste waters detoxification, disinfecting and purification of water, laser pumping with natural sunlight radiation, targeted photo and photocatalytic synthesis of chemicals using sunlight energy, and photovoltaic power systems using concentrated solar radiation.

Claims (4)

1. A multi-facet concentrator of a solar setup for the exposure of objects placed in a target plane to the action of solar radiation including: a supporting frame; and a plurality of facets, each having an optical axis and a nominal focal point, the facets chosen with a plurality of spherical focusing reflective surfaces of equal focal lengths and with selective reflective coatings reflecting a spectral fraction of solar radiation, and arranged symmetrically on the supporting frame with respect to a common axis of the concentrator, wherein optical axes of the facets are directed to a single point on the optical axis of the concentrator for determining the location of the target plane, said single point being located before a nominal focus point of the concentrator and the nominal focal point of the facets to provide a uniform flux at the *target plane.
2. The multi-facet concentrator of claim 1, wherein the facets include a glass 15 substrate.
3. The multi-facet concentrator of claim 1 or 2, wherein said selective reflective coatings are transmissible to visible and infrared light and reflective to ultraviolet light.
4. A multi-facet concentrator substantially as herein described with references to S•the accompanying drawings. Dated: 18 December 2002 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: S•MIDWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
AU29300/01A 2000-01-07 2001-01-05 Multi-facet concentrator of solar setup for irradiating the objects placed in a target plane with solar light Ceased AU767127B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/478879 2000-01-07
US09/478,879 US6225551B1 (en) 1999-09-02 2000-01-07 Multi-facet concentrator of solar setup for irradiating the objects placed in a target plane with solar light
PCT/US2001/000465 WO2001051962A2 (en) 2000-01-07 2001-01-05 Multi-facet concentrator of solar setup for irradiating the objects placed in a target plane with solar light

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU2930001A AU2930001A (en) 2001-07-24
AU767127B2 true AU767127B2 (en) 2003-10-30

Family

ID=23901740

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU29300/01A Ceased AU767127B2 (en) 2000-01-07 2001-01-05 Multi-facet concentrator of solar setup for irradiating the objects placed in a target plane with solar light

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1252536A2 (en)
CN (1) CN1420992A (en)
AU (1) AU767127B2 (en)
WO (1) WO2001051962A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7910822B1 (en) 2005-10-17 2011-03-22 Solaria Corporation Fabrication process for photovoltaic cell
US8227688B1 (en) 2005-10-17 2012-07-24 Solaria Corporation Method and resulting structure for assembling photovoltaic regions onto lead frame members for integration on concentrating elements for solar cells
WO2008080277A1 (en) * 2006-12-28 2008-07-10 Ng Shun Wu Optical supersosition solar energy electricity supplier
US7910392B2 (en) 2007-04-02 2011-03-22 Solaria Corporation Method and system for assembling a solar cell package
US8049098B2 (en) 2007-09-05 2011-11-01 Solaria Corporation Notch structure for concentrating module and method of manufacture using photovoltaic strips
CN101378237A (en) * 2007-10-16 2009-03-04 吴宣瑚 Solar photovoltaic generating set
CN201212956Y (en) * 2007-10-16 2009-03-25 吴宣瑚 Sunlight tracking device
US7910035B2 (en) 2007-12-12 2011-03-22 Solaria Corporation Method and system for manufacturing integrated molded concentrator photovoltaic device
JP4471999B2 (en) * 2007-12-21 2010-06-02 三井造船株式会社 Mounting orientation measuring device
CN102692696A (en) * 2011-03-24 2012-09-26 武汉孙言明太阳能科技有限公司 Ultra-bright light and ultra-high temperature super reflection module condenser
GB2510505A (en) * 2014-04-08 2014-08-06 John Stewart Heath Solar reflectors having topographical features
CN105403986A (en) * 2015-12-21 2016-03-16 九格能源科技(天津)有限公司 Multi-focus large-aperture solar condenser

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2379078A1 (en) * 1977-01-28 1978-08-25 Electricite De France Appts. for adjusting focal length of solar energy reflector mirrors - has mechanical means for altering shape of reflective surface
US4116539A (en) * 1977-09-20 1978-09-26 Evans Ralph S Multi-position focusing apparatus
JPH01230271A (en) * 1988-03-09 1989-09-13 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Solar battery

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4195913A (en) * 1977-11-09 1980-04-01 Spawr Optical Research, Inc. Optical integration with screw supports

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2379078A1 (en) * 1977-01-28 1978-08-25 Electricite De France Appts. for adjusting focal length of solar energy reflector mirrors - has mechanical means for altering shape of reflective surface
US4116539A (en) * 1977-09-20 1978-09-26 Evans Ralph S Multi-position focusing apparatus
JPH01230271A (en) * 1988-03-09 1989-09-13 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Solar battery

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1252536A2 (en) 2002-10-30
WO2001051962A3 (en) 2002-02-14
AU2930001A (en) 2001-07-24
CN1420992A (en) 2003-05-28
WO2001051962A2 (en) 2001-07-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6225551B1 (en) Multi-facet concentrator of solar setup for irradiating the objects placed in a target plane with solar light
AU767127B2 (en) Multi-facet concentrator of solar setup for irradiating the objects placed in a target plane with solar light
Santamouris et al. Recent development and research priorities on cool and super cool materials to mitigate urban heat island
CN110896639B (en) Radiation refrigeration functional coating and application thereof
Morini et al. Effects of aging on retro-reflective materials for building applications
Santamouris et al. Using advanced cool materials in the urban built environment to mitigate heat islands and improve thermal comfort conditions
Andrade et al. A low-cost system to simulate environmental microplastic weathering
Fernández-García et al. Durability of solar reflector materials for secondary concentrators used in CSP systems
Jacques Accelerated and outdoor/natural exposure testing of coatings
Synnefa et al. On the development, optical properties and thermal performance of cool colored coatings for the urban environment
Castellani et al. Development and characterization of retro-reflective colored tiles for advanced building skins
Simsek et al. Effect of dew and rain on photovoltaic solar cell performances
Joly et al. Novel black selective coating for tubular solar absorbers based on a sol–gel method
Yuan et al. Application of glass beads as retro-reflective facades for urban heat island mitigation: Experimental investigation and simulation analysis
El-Bashir et al. Double layered plasmonic thin-film luminescent solar concentrators based on polycarbonate supports
Pozzobon et al. Household aluminum foil matte and bright side reflectivity measurements: Application to a photobioreactor light concentrator design
Fend et al. Comparative assessment of solar concentrator materials
Morini et al. Optimized retro-reflective tiles for exterior building element
Fend et al. Applicability of highly reflective aluminium coil for solar concentrators
Pomerantz et al. Reflective surfaces for cooler buildings and cities
Ranjkesh et al. Flexible, broadband, super-reflective infrared reflector based on cholesteric liquid crystal polymer
Pollet et al. PAR transmittances of dry and condensate covered glass and plastic greenhouse cladding
Pescheux et al. Accelerated aging tests and characterizations of innovated anti-soiling coatings for solar receiver glasses
DiGrazia et al. ReflecTech® mirror film attributes and durability for CSP applications
Bilalov et al. Estimates of the influence of the solar irradiation spectrum energy on the intensity of heat treatment of solid waste with hexavalent chromium

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FGA Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent)