Effects of Receiver Parameters on Solar Flux Distribution for Triangle Cavity Receiver in the Fixed Linear-Focus Fresnel Lens Solar Concentrator

• Main Authors: Hai Wang, Yanxin Hu, Jinqing Peng, Mengjie Song, Haoteng Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: solar concentrator; cavity receiver; Fresnel lens; linear-focus; flux uniformity
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6139

The objective of the study is to investigate and optimize the solar flux uniformity of a fixed linear-focus Fresnel lens solar concentrator using a triangle cavity receiver. The effects of receiver parameters including the vertical distance from the cavity opening plane to the Fresnel lens <i>f</i>, receiver internal surface absorptivity <i>α_ab</i>, end reflection plane reflectivity <i>ρ_r</i>, solar declination angle <i>δ</i> and solar angle <i>ω</i> on the uniformity factor (<i>UF</i>) of a triangle cavity receiver were carried out. The effects of receiver parameters are evaluated with a significance test of critical factors. The results showed that the increase in <i>f</i> and <i>δ</i> would result in an increase in the <i>UF</i>. The average <i>UF</i> with <i>f</i> = 600, 625, 650, 675 and 700 mm, respectively, are 0.5030, 0.5858, 0.6337, 0.6576 and 0.6784 for <i>ω</i> in range of 0–60°. Moreover, the <i>UF</i> increases as <i>α_ab</i> decreases when other receiver parameters are constant for the <i>δ</i> of 0–8°. The <i>ρ_r</i> has a limited effect on the <i>UF</i> until <i>δ</i> becomes relatively larger and <i>ω</i> becomes relatively smaller. Furthermore, <i>ω</i> effects are most significant on the <i>UF</i>, followed by <i>δ</i>, <i>f</i> and <i>α_ab</i>. Setting a suitable <i>f</i> is the most economical and effective way to improve the <i>UF</i>.