Ray Tracing Study to Determine the Characteristics of the Solar Image in the Receiver for a Scheffler-type Solar Concentrator Coupled with a Stirling Engine

In this article, we have designed and fabricated the gamma-type Stirling engine based on the compression ratio technique. This engine is attached on a parabolic dish of a solar collector. The engine shows a good performance in terms of compression ratio, external work, total pressure, and engine’s speed. Our engine offers the thermal efficiency of 30.59 % so that it can reach the output mechanical power of 0.934. The temperature difference of 137 K can maintain very well for the heat collection of the solar collector even when the weather conditions are poor. Furthermore, our materials are environmentally friendly and this design is expected to be in the applications of the solar tracker in the future.

Download Full-text

Monte Carlo Ray-Tracing Simulation of a Cassegrain Solar Concentrator Module for CPV

Frontiers in Energy Research ◽

10.3389/fenrg.2021.722842 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Seung Jin Oh ◽

Hyungchan Kim ◽

Youngsun Hong

Keyword(s):

Monte Carlo ◽

Ray Tracing ◽

Concentration Ratio ◽

Collection Efficiency ◽

Focal Length ◽

Tracking Error ◽

Target Area ◽

Solar Concentrator ◽

Acceptance Angle ◽

Energy Applications

The concentration ratio is one of the most important characteristics in designing a Cassegrain solar concentrator since it directly affects the performance of high-density solar energy applications such as concentrated photovoltaics (CPVs). In this study, solar concentrator modules that have different configurations were proposed and their performances were compared by means of a Monte Carlo ray-tracing algorithm to identify the optimal configurations. The first solar concentrator design includes a primary parabolic concentrator, a parabolic secondary reflector, and a homogenizer. The second design, on the other hand, includes a parabolic primary concentrator, a secondary hyperbolic concentrator, and a homogenizer. Two different reflectance were applied to find the ideal concentration ratio and the actual concentration ratio. In addition, uniform rays and solar rays also were compared to estimate their efficiency. Results revealed that both modules show identical concentration ratios of 610 when the tracking error is not considered. However, the concentration ratio of the first design rapidly drops when the sun tracking error overshoots even 0.1°, whereas the concentration ratio of the second design remained constant within the range of the 0.8° tracking error. It was concluded that a paraboloidal reflector is not appropriate for the second mirror in a Cassegrain concentrator due to its low acceptance angle. The maximum collection efficiency was achieved when the f-number is smaller and the rim angle is bigger and when the secondary reflector is in a hyperboloid shape. The target area has to be rather bigger with a shorter focal length for the secondary reflector to obtain a wider acceptance angle.

Download Full-text

Ray Tracing Study of Optical Characteristics of the Solar Image in the Receiver for a Thermal Solar Parabolic Dish Collector

Journal of Solar Energy ◽

10.1155/2015/326536 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Saša R. Pavlovic ◽

Velimir P. Stefanovic

Keyword(s):

Ray Tracing ◽

Low Cost ◽

Optical Design ◽

Solar Concentrator ◽

Solar Collectors ◽

Focal Distance ◽

Medium Temperature ◽

Parabolic Dish ◽

Parabolic Dish Concentrator ◽

Temperature Levels

This study presents the geometric aspects of the focal image for a solar parabolic concentrator (SPC) using the ray tracing technique to establish parameters that allow the designation of the most suitable geometry for coupling the SPC to absorber-receiver. The efficient conversion of solar radiation into heat at these temperature levels requires a use of concentrating solar collectors. In this paper detailed optical design of the solar parabolic dish concentrator is presented. The system has diameter D=3800 mm and focal distance f=2260 mm. The parabolic dish of the solar system consists of 11 curvilinear trapezoidal reflective petals. For the construction of the solar collectors, mild steel-sheet and square pipe were used as the shell support for the reflecting surfaces. This paper presents optical simulations of the parabolic solar concentrator unit using the ray tracing software TracePro. The total flux on the receiver and the distribution of irradiance for absorbing flux on center and periphery receiver are given. The goal of this paper is to present the optical design of a low-tech solar concentrator that can be used as a potentially low cost tool for laboratory scale research on the medium-temperature thermal processes, cooling, industrial processes, polygeneration systems, and so forth.

Download Full-text

Design of a solar concentrator combining paraboloidal and hyperbolic mirrors using ray tracing method

Optics Communications ◽

10.1016/j.optcom.2008.10.017 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 282 (3) ◽

pp. 360-366 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Chi-Feng Chen ◽

Chih-Hao Lin ◽

Huang-Tzung Jan ◽

Yun-Ling Yang

Keyword(s):

Ray Tracing ◽

Solar Concentrator ◽

Ray Tracing Method ◽

Tracing Method

Download Full-text

Ray Tracing for Evaluation of the SK14 Solar Concentrator as a Solar Fryer

Proceedings of the ISES Solar World Congress 2015 ◽

10.18086/swc.2015.03.06 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

O. J. Nydal ◽

Asfafaw Tesfay

Keyword(s):

Ray Tracing ◽

Solar Concentrator

Download Full-text

Experimental and theoretical investigations of aγ-type Stirling engine powered by a parabolic solar concentrator in the city of Karaj: a case study

Mechanics & Industry ◽

10.1051/meca/2015053 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 103

Author(s):

Hasan Sabahi ◽

Mansoor Keyanpour-Rad ◽

Ali Asghar Tofigh

Keyword(s):

Stirling Engine ◽

Solar Concentrator ◽

Theoretical Investigations ◽

The City

Download Full-text

Tests of a solar concentrator plant with a Stirling engine in natural conditions

10.18411/lj-05-2020-33 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

V.A. Panchenko

Keyword(s):

Stirling Engine ◽

Solar Concentrator ◽

Natural Conditions

Download Full-text

Simulation of a Novel Configuration for Luminescent Solar Concentrator Photovoltaic Devices Using Bifacial Silicon Solar Cells

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10030871 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 871 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mohammadreza Aghaei ◽

Marcello Nitti ◽

Ned J. Ekins-Daukes ◽

Angèle H.M.E. Reinders

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Ray Tracing ◽

Crystalline Silicon ◽

Standard Test ◽

Maximum Efficiency ◽

Back Side ◽

Solar Concentrator ◽

Photovoltaic Devices ◽

Luminescent Solar Concentrator ◽

Future Potential

In this study, a novel configuration for luminescent solar concentrator photovoltaic (LSC PV) devices is presented, with vertically placed bifacial PV solar cells made of mono-crystalline silicon (mono c-Si). This LSC PV device comprises multiple rectangular cuboid lightguides, made of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), containing Lumogen dyes, in particular, either Lumogen red 305 or orange 240. The bifacial solar cells are located in between these lightguide cubes and can, therefore, receive irradiance at both of their surfaces. The main aim of this study is to theoretically determine the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of five differently configured LSC PV devices. For this purpose, Monte Carlo ray tracing simulations were executed to analyze the irradiance at receiving PV cell surfaces, as well as the optical performance of these LSC PV devices. Five different LSC PV devices, with different geometries and varying dye concentrations, were modeled. To maximize the device efficiency, the bifacial cells were also attached to the back side of the lightguides. The ray tracing simulations resulted in a maximum efficiency of 16.9% under standard test conditions (STC) for a 15 × 15 cm2 LSC PV device, consisting of nine rectangular cuboid 5 × 5 × 1 cm3 PMMA lightguides with 5 ppm orange 240 dye, with 12 vertically positioned 5 × 1 cm2 bifacial cells in between the lightguides and nine 5 × 5 cm2 PV cells attached to the back of the device. If the cells are not applied to the back of this LSC PV device configuration, the maximum PCE will be 2.9% (under STC), where the LSC PV device consists of 25 cubical 1 × 1 × 1 cm3 PMMA lightguides with 110 ppm red 305 dye and 40 vertically oriented bifacial PV cells of 1 × 1 cm2 in between the lightguides. These results show the vast future potential for LSC PV technologies, with a higher performance and efficiency than the common threshold PCE for LSC PV devices of 10%.

Download Full-text