Performance analysis of a novel solar concentrator using lunar flux mapping techniques

dc.contributor.authorRoosendaal, Casey
dc.contributor.authorSwanepoel, Jonathan Kyle
dc.contributor.authorLe Roux, Willem Gabriel
dc.contributor.emailwillem.leroux@up.ac.zaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2021-08-30T07:56:39Z
dc.date.available2021-08-30T07:56:39Z
dc.date.issued2020-08
dc.description.abstractOne of the most important issues faced today with regards to solar concentrators is the trade-off between cost and optical accuracy. In this paper, a new design aims to reduce costs while maintaining high optical accuracy with the added benefit of optical adjustability. This is accomplished by manufacturing individual facets out of commercially-available television satellite dishes with aluminised plastic film to form a multifaceted vacuum membrane concentrator. The lightweight facets were affixed to a modular support structure in a hexagonal honeycomb arrangement and in the profile of a paraboloid, where each facet could be adjusted individually. Two different concentrator sizes with global diameters of 1.6 m and 4.98 m were constructed and tested. Testing took place during the full moon phase using a Canon EOS 700D camera with no added equipment. Images of the flux were captured and were treated for the effect of city light pollution. With the use of normalised flux maps, the peak solar concentration ratios of the large and small dish setups were calculated to be 1438 and 539 respectively. The design, therefore, proved to be a viable design alternative for point focus solar concentrators to reduce costs and maintain optical accuracy. Furthermore, the lunar flux mapping techniques proved effective and safe, by using the incident light from the moon and standard camera equipment.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentMechanical and Aeronautical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.description.librarianhj2021en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the University of Pretoria’s Research and Development Plan (RDP) and the National Research Foundation (NRF).en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/soleneren_ZA
dc.identifier.citationRoosendaal, C., Swanepoel, J.K. & Le Roux, W.G. 2020, 'Performance analysis of a novel solar concentrator using lunar flux mapping techniques', Solar Energy, vol. 206, pp. 200-215.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0038-092X
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.solener.2020.05.050
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/81532
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherElsevieren_ZA
dc.rights© 2020 International Solar Energy Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Solar Energy. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. A definitive version was subsequently published in Solar Energy, vol. 206, pp. 200-215, 2020. doi : 10.1016/j.solener.2020.05.050.en_ZA
dc.subjectLunaren_ZA
dc.subjectVacuum membraneen_ZA
dc.subjectFlux mappingen_ZA
dc.subjectMultifaceteden_ZA
dc.subjectSolar dishen_ZA
dc.subject.otherEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-04
dc.subject.otherSDG-04: Quality education
dc.subject.otherEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-07
dc.subject.otherSDG-07: Affordable and clean energy
dc.subject.otherEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-09
dc.subject.otherSDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
dc.subject.otherEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-12
dc.subject.otherSDG-12: Responsible consumption and production
dc.subject.otherEngineering, built environment and information technology articles SDG-13
dc.subject.otherSDG-13: Climate action
dc.titlePerformance analysis of a novel solar concentrator using lunar flux mapping techniquesen_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Roosendaal_Performance_2020.pdf
Size:
3.52 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Postprint Article

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.75 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: