A universal solar simulator for focused and quasi-collimated beams

Abstract

This paper presents a 70-kWe indoor solar simulator for concentrating and non-concentrating solar applications. The solar simulator consists of three major components: a lamp array, an optical integrator, and a collimating lens. The lamp array consists of seven radiation modules, each comprising a 10-kWe short-arc xenon lamp coupled to a custom-designed reflector with the shape of a truncated ellipsoid. The optical integrator and collimating lens are intended for homogenizing the energy flux distribution of light from the lamp arry and reducing the divergnce angle of light. The solar simulator can produce concentrated high-flux, medium-flux and non-concentrated quasi-collimated light with continuously adjustable power output. Within a 60 mm-diameter circular target on the focal plane, the measured peak and mean radiative fluxes are 9200 kW/m2 and 5100 kW/m2, respectively, and the corresponding radiative power is 14.45 kW. For a 4 m × 3 m rectangular area illuminated by quasi-collimated light, the measured radiative flux, half divergence angle, and uniformity of the light are 0.94 kW/m2, 1.3°, and 92%, respectively. At 27% of the rated power input of the solar simulator, a parabolic trough collector illuminated by the quasi-collimated light can reach 350 °C; at 93% of the rated power input, the focused radiation can melt tantalum (melting point 3017 °C). The solar simulator provides a universal research platform for a wide range of solar energy technologies, such as solar thermal, solar thermochemical, solar photovoltaics and photocatalysis (with a minor upgrade of the spectrum).