Design of solar concentrator to compensate the end loss of fixed linear-focus Fresnel lens solar system

ABSTRACT

End loss accounts for a large part of optical loss in single-axis solar concentrators. The present work demonstrates the design and optical performance analysis of a fixed linear-focus Fresnel lens solar system (FLFS) with three different tracking methods to reduce the end loss. The simulation results show that the FLFS coupling curved slip rail has significant advantages over the existing single-axis tracking structures at almost sunlight incident angles. The yearly average relatively optical efficiency factor (η_ave) of the FLFS coupling curved, straight and without slip rail is 0.968, 0.923, and, 0.816 respectively. Compared to a single polar tracking system, the average η_ave of the FLFS coupling curved and straight slip rail has increased by 18.6% and 13.1%, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Solar concentrator
• linear Fresnel lens
• slip adjustment
• fixed linear-focus
• optical efficiency

Nomenclature

Table

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the CAS Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, China under Grant [CRYO202102]; Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation under Grant [2019A1515110442]; General College Young Innovative Talent Project of Education Department of Guangdong under Grant [2019KQNCX173, 2020KQNCX094]; Zhaoqing City Science and Technology Innovation Guidance Project under Grant [202004030205] and Research Fund Project of Zhaoqing University under Grant [No. 2020012511];Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province [No. 2019A1515110442];