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Simulation and Experimental Study on the Optical Performance of a Fixed-Focus Fresnel Lens Solar Concentrator Using Polar-Axis Tracking

Author

Listed:
  • Hai Wang

    (Department of Energy Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Jin Huang

    (Department of Energy Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Mengjie Song

    (Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 277-8563, Japan)

  • Yanxin Hu

    (Department of Energy Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Yunfeng Wang

    (Solar Energy Research Institute, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650092, China)

  • Zijian Lu

    (Department of Energy Engineering, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China)

Abstract

Most sun-tracking systems of solar concentrators are expensive, sensitive to operational costs, and complicated in optical design in which the receiver must be free to rotate about the axis. To overcome the aforementioned problems, this study presents a fixed-focus Fresnel lens solar concentrator (FFFSC) using polar-axis tracking which allows the Fresnel lens to concentrate sunlight to a fixed small heat-receiving area and the receiver remained fixed in location and rotation. Experimental research has been conducted to obtain the optical characteristics of the FFFSC for different solar times, tracking errors, and periodical adjustment errors. It has been found that maximum values of the relative optical efficiency loss ( η re-opt , loss ) and minimum value of the optical efficiency ( η opt ) of the FFFSC for different solar times are 1.87% and 71.61%, respectively. The mean value and maximum value of the local concentration ratio of the solar flux on the receiver are more than 86.64 and 1319.43, respectively. When the tracking error and periodical adjustment error are within 1°, the η opt of the FFFSC can reach 70.38% and 68.94%, respectively. The optical characteristics of FFFSC is also verified numerically. Especially, according to the total year simulation of the FFFSC’s optical characteristics, maximum value of η re-opt , loss is 0.116%, which means the proposed the FFFSC can achieve fixed-focus.

Suggested Citation

  • Hai Wang & Jin Huang & Mengjie Song & Yanxin Hu & Yunfeng Wang & Zijian Lu, 2018. "Simulation and Experimental Study on the Optical Performance of a Fixed-Focus Fresnel Lens Solar Concentrator Using Polar-Axis Tracking," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:4:p:887-:d:140448
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    Cited by:

    1. Hai Wang, 2023. "Comparative Study of a Fixed-Focus Fresnel Lens Solar Concentrator/Conical Cavity Receiver System with and without Glass Cover Installed in a Solar Cooker," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Wang, Hai & Huang, Jin & Song, Mengjie & Yan, Jian, 2019. "Effects of receiver parameters on the optical performance of a fixed-focus Fresnel lens solar concentrator/cavity receiver system in solar cooker," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C), pages 70-82.
    3. Yongxiang Liu & Youduo Peng & Jian Yan, 2022. "Effect of the Azimuth Axis Tilt Error on the Tracking Performance of a Solar Dish Concentrator System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Yu Zou & Ka Wai Eric Cheng, 2019. "Design and Control of a Permanent Magnet RotLin Motor for New Foldable Photovoltaic Units," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-18, May.
    5. Hai Wang & Yanxin Hu & Jinqing Peng & Mengjie Song & Haoteng Li, 2021. "Effects of Receiver Parameters on Solar Flux Distribution for Triangle Cavity Receiver in the Fixed Linear-Focus Fresnel Lens Solar Concentrator," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-21, May.
    6. Kexin Zhang & Ying Su & Haiyu Wang & Qian Wang & Kai Wang & Yisen Niu & Jifeng Song, 2022. "Highly Concentrated Solar Flux of Large Fresnel Lens Using CCD Camera-Based Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, September.

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