A comparison of optical performance for linear Fresnel collectors with different secondary reflector receiver shapes Free

The present study analyzes three different secondary reflector technologies for linear Fresnel collectors in terms of optical properties. This includes not only the optical efficiency, but also the annual mean flux intensity and the mean circumferential flux intensity homogeneity. Results are compared to those of parabolic troughs. This work leads to the conclusion that segmented parabolic secondary concentrators are not adequate for high and homogeneous flux intensities, whereas compound parabolic concentrators and adaptive design concentrators have similar optical specifications. When compared to parabolic troughs, it results that Fresnel efficiency is around 21% lower; however, they achieve 64% higher mean flux intensity and a flux circumferential homogeneity 4.8 times higher.