A diagnostic technique developed to detect possible local deformations in the primary mirrors used in solar concentrators is presented. A grazing illumination technique is used to evaluate the effect of changes in the shape of the mirror surface from the ideal one. The technique provides a qualitative evaluation of the uniformity of the mirror surface and highlights possible imperfections in the surface due to manufacturing process. The optical setup and some experimental results are described together with a simple analysis procedure.
REFERENCES
1.
P.
Su
, R. E.
Parks
, L.
Wang
, R. P.
Angel
, and J. H.
Burge
, “SCOTS: A Quantitative Slope Measuring Method for Optical Shop Use
” in International Optical Design Conference and Optical Fabrication and Testing
, OSA Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America
, 2010
), paper OTuB3.2.
R.
Herrero
, C.
Domínguez
, S.
Askins
, I.
Antón
, and G.
Sala
, “Methodology of quantifying curvature of Fresnel lenses and its effect on CPV module performance
,” Opt. Express
23
, A1030
–A1039
(2015
)3.
G.
Timò
, “Results of the APOLLON Project and Concentrating Photovoltaic Perspective
”, http://www.rse-web.it/focus.page?docId=7531, Editrice Alkes
, 2014
.
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2017 Author(s).
2017
Author(s)