Design and analysis of solar-tracking 2D Fresnel lens-based two staged, spectrum-splitting solar concentrators

Abstract

Abstract This research investigates a spectrum control method that improves the concentration flux uniformity and redirects the energy that tend to build up temperature under a Fresnel lens (FL). The design is mapped via ray tracing technique based on Snell's law and the law of reflection as applicable to the lens, the spectrum splitters, and the 2nd stage reflectors. To examine the illumination patterns on the receivers of a spectrum splitting concentrator that consists of a FL and two dichroic mirrors, a spectrum allocating algorithm, which is able to define the three-point coordinate sets of all the on-lens prisms, has been developed. The coordinates are then ported to TracePro for FL construction and light path verification. This study also investigates suitable second stage compound flat concentrators for recovering the radiation that misses the target range. Computer simulations of acrylic based FLs determine the maximal energy available under the lens. The results have been calibrated with published measured data before they are used to chart out the spectrum segments' locations on each target. This study explores different locations' spectral composition details via target position adjustment and, consequently, helps to fit different concentrated wavelengths to their suitable applications.