For space solar dynamic power systems, large-area, point-focus solar energy concentrators will be required. The conventional approach to point-focus concentrators is the reflective parabolic dish optical system. However, the reflective optical approach involves significant problems. Many of these problems can be eliminated or minimized by using a transmittance-optimized dome Fresnel lens refractive concentrator, instead of a conventional reflective concentrator. Compared to the reflective approach, the lens approach offers: a factor of 200 advantage in slope error (shape) tolerance; zero aperture shading caused by the receiver/engine/radiator hardware; inert dielectric optical panels; mild and tailorable radiant flux distributions within the receiver; extremely small transport volume; low concentrator weight; mass-producible optical panels; and low concentrator cost. The following paragraphs present the dome Fresnel lens concentrator approach including a description of the concentrator, its optical performance, its thermal performance, and its manufacturability.
Dome Fresnel lens concentrator for space solar dynamic power
Kuppe-Fresnel-Linsen-Konzentrator fuer solardynamische Kraftanlagen der Raumfahrt
1986
6 Seiten, 10 Bilder, 12 Quellen
Conference paper
English
Fresnel-lens solar-energy concentrator
NTRS | 1977
|Large-scale Fresnel lens solar concentrator
NTRS | 1977
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