We developed a polarimetric imaging drone for field inspections of CSP Heliostats. By utilizing the polarization pattern of the skylight calculated with the Rayleigh scattering model, the difficult scenarios for visible images show a good enhancement in the contrast of features, such as edges and cracks of the heliostat mirror facets. Analysis of the test results carried out at Sandia NSTTF validated the feasibility of applying this method and system to the CSP fields. Future work is desired for image fusion of high-resolution visible images and polarization images with well-designed angles.
The soiling level of heliostat mirrors in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) fields is one of the key factors that significantly influences optical efficiency. While several methods of monitoring heliostats soiling levels have been developed, it remains challenging to determine heliostats soiling levels quickly and non-intrusively with large area scanning. We have developed a method based on polarimetric imaging to accomplish this goal, using the natural light’s polarization information and ray tracing calculations. With the flexibility to be integrated into a UAV-based imaging system or portable imaging setup, this method holds the potential of deployment to any CSP field for mirror soiling detection high efficiency and accuracy.
Optics related to solar technologies is a wide field of study. The topics covered in this Field Guide are frequently encountered in solar engineering and research for energy harvesting, particularly for electricity generation. The book includes: background on energy needs and usage, including where solar technologies fit into the energy mix; properties of the sun and foundations for solar energy collection; optical properties, concepts, and basic components; various optical systems used in solar engineering and solar energy collection; concepts for characterizing optical components/systems and analysis approaches; and measurement tools commonly used in solar engineering and research. The presentation is slanted toward solar thermal power, or as it is commonly called, concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies.
"This is a wonderful summary of all CSP optics. Whether you're new to the field or an experienced practitioner, this guide is an excellent reference. Each topic moves efficiently from basic concept to theory, including necessary math foundations, and the Equation Summary is very helpful. PV and CPV folks will find it to be a handy solar desk reference as well."
-Jim Clair, President, Skysun, LLC
Operation of concentrated solar power receivers at higher temperatures (<700°C) would enable supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycles for improved power cycle efficiencies (<50%) and cost-effective solar thermal power. Unfortunately, radiative losses at higher temperatures in conventional receivers can negatively impact the system efficiency gains. One approach to improve receiver thermal efficiency is to utilize selective coatings that enhance absorption across the visible solar spectrum while minimizing emission in the infrared to reduce radiative losses. Existing coatings, however, tend to degrade rapidly at elevated temperatures. In this paper, we report on the initial designs, fabrication, and characterization of spectrally selective metamaterial-based absorbers for high-temperature, high-thermal flux environments important for solarized sCO2 power cycles. Metamaterials are structured media whose optical properties are determined by sub-wavelength structural features instead of bulk material properties, providing unique solutions by decoupling the optical absorption spectrum from thermal stability requirements. The key enabling innovative concept proposed is the use of structured surfaces with spectral responses that can be tailored to optimize the absorption and retention of solar energy for a given temperature range. In this initial study we use Tungsten for its stability in expected harsh environments, compatibility with microfabrication techniques, and required optical performance. Our goal is to tailor the optical properties for high (near unity) absorptivity across the majority of the solar spectrum and over a broad range of incidence angles, and at the same time achieve negligible absorptivity in the near infrared to optimize the energy absorbed and retained. To this goal, we apply the recently developed concept of plasmonic Brewster angle to suitably designed nanostructured Tungsten surfaces. We predict that this will improve the receiver thermal efficiencies by at least 10% over current solar receivers.
Concentrating solar power receivers are comprised of panels of tubes arranged in a cylindrical or cubical shape on top of a tower. The tubes contain heat-transfer fluid that absorbs energy from the concentrated sunlight incident on the tubes. To increase the solar absorptance, black paint or a solar selective coating is applied to the surface of the tubes. However, these coatings degrade over time and must be reapplied, which reduces the system performance and increases costs. This paper presents an evaluation of novel receiver shapes and geometries that create a light-trapping effect, thereby increasing the effective solar absorptance and efficiency of the solar receiver. Several prototype shapes were fabricated from Inconel 718 and tested in Sandia’s solar furnace at an irradiance of ~30 W/cm2. Photographic methods were used to capture the irradiance distribution on the receiver surfaces. The irradiance profiles were compared to results from raytracing models. The effective solar absorptance was also evaluated using the ray-tracing models. Results showed that relative to a flat plate, the new geometries could increase the effective solar absorptance from 86% to 92% for an intrinsic material absorptance of 86%, and from 60% to 73% for an intrinsic material absorptance of 60%.
Traditional tubular receivers used in concentrating solar power are formed using tubes connected to manifolds to form panels; which in turn are arranged in cylindrical or rectangular shapes. Previous and current tubular receivers, such as the ones used in Solar One, Solar Two, and most recently the Ivanpah solar plants, have used a black paint coating to increase the solar absorptance of the receiver. However, these coatings degrade over time and must be reapplied, increasing the receiver maintenance cost. This paper presents the thermal efficiency evaluation of novel receiver tubular panels that have a higher effective solar absorptance due to a light-trapping effect created by arranging the tubes in each panel into unique geometric configurations. Similarly, the impact of the incidence angle on the effective solar absorptance and thermal efficiency is evaluated. The overarching goal of this work is to achieve effective solar absorptances of ~90% and thermal efficiencies above 85% without using an absorptance coating. Several panel geometries were initially proposed and were down-selected based on structural analyses considering the thermal and pressure loading requirements of molten salt and supercritical carbon-dioxide receivers. The effective solar absorptance of the chosen tube geometries and panel configurations were evaluated using the ray-tracing modeling capabilities of SolTrace. The thermal efficiency was then evaluated by coupling computational fluid dynamics with the ray-tracing results using ANSYS Fluent. Compared to the base case analysis (flat tubular panel), the novel tubular panels have shown an increase in effective solar absorptance and thermal efficiency by several percentage points.
Solar thermal receivers absorb concentrated sunlight and can operate at high temperatures exceeding 600°C for production of heat and electricity. New fractal-like designs employing light-trapping structures and geometries at multiple length scales are proposed to increase the effective solar absorptance and efficiency of these receivers. Radial and linear structures at the micro (surface coatings and depositions), meso (tube shape and geometry), and macro (total receiver geometry and configuration) scales redirect reflected solar radiation toward the interior of the receiver for increased absorptance. Hotter regions within the interior of the receiver also reduce thermal emittance due to reduced local view factors in the interior regions, and higher concentration ratios can be employed with similar surface irradiances to reduce the effective optical aperture and thermal losses. Coupled optical/fluid/thermal models have been developed to evaluate the performance of these designs relative to conventional designs. Results show that fractal-like structures and geometries can reduce total radiative losses by up to 50% and increase the thermal efficiency by up to 10%. The impact was more pronounced for materials with lower inherent solar absorptances (< 0.9). Meso-scale tests were conducted and confirmed model results that showed increased light-trapping from corrugated surfaces relative to flat surfaces.
Large-scale solar plants are mostly installed in semi-arid and desert areas. In those areas, dust layer buildup on solar
collectors becomes a major cause for energy yield loss. Development of transparent electrodynamic screens (EDS) and
their applications for self-cleaning operation of solar mirrors are presented with a primary focus on the removal dust
particles smaller than 30 µm in diameter while maintaining specular reflection efficiency < 90%. An EDS consists of thin
rectangular array of parallel transparent conducting electrodes deposited on a transparent dielectric surface. The electrodes
are insulated from each other and are embedded within a thin transparent dielectric film. The electrodes are activated using
three-phase high-voltage pulses at low current (< 1 mA/m2
). The three-phase electric field charges the deposited particles,
lifts them form the substrate by electrostatic forces and propels the dust layer off of the collector’s surface by a traveling
wave. The cleaning process takes less than 2 minutes; needs energy less than 1 Wh/m2
without requiring any water or
manual labor. The reflection efficiency can be restored > 95% of the original clean-mirror efficiency. We briefly present
(1) loss of specular reflection efficiency as a function of particle size distribution of deposited dust, and (2) the effects of
the electrode design and materials used for minimizing initial loss of specular reflectivity in producing EDS-integrated
solar mirrors. Optimization of EDS by using a figure of merit defined by the ratio of dust removal efficiency to the initial
loss of specular reflection efficiency is discussed.
Solar optical modeling tools are valuable for modeling and predicting the performance of solar technology systems. Four optical modeling tools were evaluated using the National Solar Thermal Test Facility heliostat field combined with flat plate receiver geometry as a benchmark. The four optical modeling tools evaluated were DELSOL, HELIOS, SolTrace, and Tonatiuh. All are available for free from their respective developers. DELSOL and HELIOS both use a convolution of the sunshape and optical errors for rapid calculation of the incident irradiance profiles on the receiver surfaces. SolTrace and Tonatiuh use ray-tracing methods to intersect the reflected solar rays with the receiver surfaces and construct irradiance profiles. We found the ray-tracing tools, although slower in computation speed, to be more flexible for modeling complex receiver geometries, whereas DELSOL and HELIOS were limited to standard receiver geometries such as flat plate, cylinder, and cavity receivers. We also list the strengths and deficiencies of the tools to show tool preference depending on the modeling and design needs. We provide an example of using SolTrace for modeling nonconventional receiver geometries. The goal is to transfer the irradiance profiles on the receiver surfaces calculated in an optical code to a computational fluid dynamics code such as ANSYS Fluent. This approach eliminates the need for using discrete ordinance or discrete radiation transfer models, which are computationally intensive, within the CFD code. The irradiance profiles on the receiver surfaces then allows for thermal and fluid analysis on the receiver.
Flat mirrors as large as 4 meters in diameter can be manufactured to high accuracy, limited by
the surface metrology. We present metrology systems that are specifically optimized for
measuring very large flats to high accuracy. A large aperture vibration insensitive Fizeau
interferometer combined with stitching software provides high resolution surface
measurements. Low order shape errors can be measured using scanning slope measurements
from precision inclinometers or an autocollimator with scanning pentaprism.
Conventional measurement methods for large flat mirrors are generally difficult and expensive. In most cases, comparison with a master or a reference flat similar in size is required. Using gravity, as in modern pendulum-type electronic levels, takes advantage of a free reference to precisely measure inclination or surface slopes. We describe using two electronic levels to measure flatness of large mirrors. We provide measurement results on a 1.6-m-diameter flat mirror to an accuracy of 50 nm rms of low-order Zernike aberrations.
Flat mirrors of around 1 meter are efficiently manufactured with large plano polishers and
measured with Fizeau interferometry. We have developed technologies and hardware that allow
fabrication and testing of flat mirrors that are much larger. The grinding and polishing of the
large surfaces uses conventional laps driven under computer control for accurate and systematic
control of the surface figure. The measurements are provided by a combination of a scanning
pentaprism test, capable of measuring power and low order irregularity over diameters up to 8
meters, and subaperture Fizeau interferometry. We have developed a vibration insensitive Fizeau
interferometer with 1 meter aperture and software to optimally combine the data from the
subaperture tests. These methods were proven on a 1.6 m flat mirror that was finished to 6 nm
rms irregularity and 11 nm rms power.
In order to achieve controlled degree of intermixing in selected areas (CISA), SiO2 gratings are checked first to be able to influence the degree of intermixing during high-temperature rapid thermal annealing of InGaAs/GaAs quantum wells. Subsequently, SiO2/MgF2 gratings with different periods are used to cover different parts of MWQ sample and found to be suitable for achieving CISA after only a single annealing procedure.
KEYWORDS: Space telescopes, Control systems, Telescopes, Mirrors, Image segmentation, Visibility, Modulation transfer functions, Process control, Tolerancing, Actuators
SVS has recently completed a phase II small business innovative research (SBIR) project called Low Cost Space Imager. As part of the SBIR project, a sparse aperture telescope design concept was developed. This design includes an optical control system capable of correcting the primary segments to within 38 nm piston and 17 nrad tilt as required by the optical tolerance analysis. The optical system utilizes a common secondary and primaries arranged in a Golay-6 configuration. The primaries are spherical, which eliminates the need for translation and rotation control. A laboratory experiment to validate the controls concept has ben completed. This experiment culminated in the demonstration of autonomous capture, alignment, and phasing of an optical system with a three segment primary to tolerances consistent with the space optical system. The implementation of the controls scheme in the laboratory experiment is done using Matlab/Simulink for controller design and code generation. The code is implemented real- time on a VME based computer system. Closed loop piston control, which utilizes a four-bin sensing scheme, of an actuated mirror to 25 nm RMS mirror motion has been demonstrated. Additionally, autonomous capture and phasing of three segmented primaries has been demonstrated. The technique for the phasing capture involves real-time implementation of image processing techniques to measure the white light fringe visibility in the far field.
KEYWORDS: Control systems, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Mirrors, Image segmentation, Visibility, Modulation transfer functions, Process control, Tolerancing, Actuators
SVS has recently completed a phase II small business innovative research (SBIR) project called low cost space imager (LCSI). As part of the SBIR project, a sparse aperture telescope design concept was developed. This design includes an optical control system capable of correcting the primary segments to within 38 nm piston and 17 nrad tilt as required by the optical tolerance analysis. The optical system utilizes a common secondary and primaries arranged in a Golay-6 configuration. The primaries are spherical, which eliminates the need for translation and rotation control. A laboratory experiment to validate the controls concept has been completed. This experiment culminated in the demonstration of autonomous capture, alignment, and phasing of an optical system with a three segment primary to tolerances consistent with the space optical system. The implementation of the controls scheme in the laboratory experiment is done using Matlab/Simulink for controller design and code generation the code is implemented real-time on a VME based computer system. Closed loop piston control, which utilizes a four-bin sensing scheme, of an actuated mirror to 25 nm RMS mirror motion has been demonstrated. Additionally, autonomous capture and phasing of three segmented primaries has been demonstrated. The technique for the phasing capture involves real-time implementation of image processing techniques to measure the white light fringe visibility in the far field.
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