Open AccessPushing concentration of stationary solar concentrators to the limit
Author(s) -
R. Winston,
Weiya Zhang
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.000a64
Subject(s) - concentrator , optics , parabolic trough , nonimaging optics , limit (mathematics) , physics , solar energy , dielectric , geometrical optics , sunlight , solar mirror , materials science , optoelectronics , meteorology , mathematics , photovoltaic thermal hybrid solar collector , engineering , electrical engineering , thermal , mathematical analysis
We give the theoretical limit of concentration allowed by nonimaging optics for stationary solar concentrators after reviewing sun-earth geometry in direction cosine space. We then discuss the design principles that we follow to approach the maximum concentration along with examples including a hollow CPC trough, a dielectric CPC trough, and a 3D dielectric stationary solar concentrator which concentrates sun light four times (4x), eight hours per day year around.