OPTICAL-SIMULATION FOR A FIXED SPHERICAL SOLAR COLLECTOR

To calculate the absorber dimensions for a fixed spherical solar collector, an optical simulation of the ray-tracing type is proposed. The physical quantities, which have an effect upon these dimensions, are described as well as the measurement methods. Once the dimensions are determined, the incident flux on the absorber surface can be calculated by the same program in terms of different zenith distances. These calculations can be checked by comparing the calculated flux on the surface of the absorber with the measured flux at different points along the absorber aimed at the full moon instead of at the sun. Through the data obtained from the measurements, fluctuating points of high flux and permanent zones which receive double and triple reflection rays have been studied. © 1979 Optical Society of America.