Surface degradation on the solid-state and sheet-based reflector for concentrated solar power application under Indonesia climate

The effectivity of concentrated solar power (CSP) system to produce solar thermal energy is highly dependent on its reflector’s durability. However, since the CSP system is located outdoor, the reflector tends to degrade over time. Thus, it is important to assess the durability of the reflector to understand the soiling effect under a specific environmental condition. The study aims to evaluate the degradation of reflector material in a tropical environment. Solid-state and sheet-based reflectors are tested by environmental exposure for 1080 hours at an elevation of 38 meters after sea level. The mass of the reflector is weighted every 72 hours to observe the mass loss rate during exposure. Sheet-based mirror has the highest mass loss rate of 14.42 mg/day and 23.13 mg/day. Also, it has a higher corrosion rate than solid state mirror, which has a corrosion rate of 0.248 and 1.019 mpy. The article discusses the corrosion mechanism and surface observation using a light microscope in more detail. New material development and improvement on the anti-soiling effect for the reflector can be developed by understanding the degradation and corrosion mechanism of tropical climates.