Optical design and experimental characterization of a solar concentrating dish system for fuel production via thermochemical redox cycles

Open access
Date
2018-08Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited 42 times in
Web of Science
Cited 46 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
The design, fabrication, and on-sun characterization of a solar dish concentrating system for performing the two-step thermochemical redox splitting of H2O and CO2 is presented. It comprises a primary sun-tracking 4.4 m-dia. solar dish concentrator coupled to a secondary planar rotating reflector. This optical arrangement enables the operation of two (or more) solar reactors side-by-side for performing both redox reactions simultaneously by alternating the solar input between them while making continuous and uninterrupted use of the incoming concentrated sunlight. On-sun characterization of the complete concentrating system revealed a peak solar concentration ratio of 5010 suns and an average of 2710 suns measured over the 30 mm-radius aperture of the solar reactor. A detailed optical analysis elucidates measures to increase the optical efficiency and concentration ratio. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000270242Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Solar EnergyVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
ElsevierSubject
Solar; Concentrator; Optics; Thermochemical; Redox; Fuel; ReactorOrganisational unit
03530 - Steinfeld, Aldo / Steinfeld, Aldo
Funding
170735 - Solar Concentrator-Reactor Setup for the Thermochemical Production of Renewable Liquid Fuels from H2O and CO2 (SNF)
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Show all metadata
Citations
Cited 42 times in
Web of Science
Cited 46 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics