The aim of the work was to create an automatic positioning system, with optics for radiation concentration and a body for its collection, by monitoring the sun across the sky using a camera. At the beginning are introduced the concentrator systems and the movement of the sun from the perspective of the observer. Follows description of the various potential components which requires a functional system. The last part deal with the implementation of selected components for operation as a whole system, verification of functionality by accurate tracking of the sun across the sky and measuring the performance of the concentrator system with automatic positioning.

Submitted by Morgana Silva (morgana_linhares@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-09-23T16:07:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação.pdf: 2848624 bytes, checksum: f5075c15190584601d6a5374e1d06fd7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-23T16:07:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação.pdf: 2848624 bytes, checksum: f5075c15190584601d6a5374e1d06fd7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-22 / Brazil has as a main source for production of electricity the dams using water to drive the turbines and as a secondary source are used the thermoelectric power plants that use fuel oil for electric power production. Both generate a large environmental impact, due to the fact of the dams need huge areas for its construction, which often leads to destruction of important ecosystems in the region where it will be installed the hydroelectric plant, besides the fact that they need the rainfall cycle so that the dams have the operating capacity, while the thermoelectric power plants burn fossil fuels thus increasing emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere. An alternative to the solution of the problems mentioned above is the use of renewable sources of energy, with emphasis on this work. Solar energy can be divided into two parts: thermal and photovoltaic. This work it is focused on thermal use of solar energy, with a Fresnel-type solar concentrator to heat water, which will trigger a cooling system environment with the use of desiccant rotors. The choice of type Fresnel collector gave the field of development of this hub is still in constant growth and by the fact that even occupy a relatively small area when compared to other solar thermal concentrators, in addition to its construction be simple and low cost when again compared to other solar concentrators. / O Brasil tem como fonte principal para produção de energia elétrica as hidrelétricas que utilizam água para movimentar as turbinas e como fonte complementar são utilizadas as termoelétricas que usam óleo combustível para produção de energia elétrica. Ambas geram um grande impacto ambiental, devido ao fato das hidrelétricas necessitarem de enormes áreas para a construção das represas, o que muitas vezes acarreta na destruição de ecossistemas importantes para a região onde irá ser instalada a hidrelétrica, além do fato que elas necessitam do ciclo das chuvas para que as represas possuam capacidade de operação, enquanto que as termoelétricas queimam combustíveis fosseis, aumentando assim as emissões de CO2 para a atmosfera. Uma alternativa para a solução dos problemas citados anteriormente é a utilização de fontes renováveis de energia, dando ênfase neste trabalho a energia solar. A energia solar pode ser dividida em duas vertentes: térmica e fotovoltaica. Este trabalho está voltado para a utilização térmica da energia solar, através da utilização de um concentrador solar do tipo Fresnel para o aquecimento de água, a qual irá acionar um sistema de refrigeração de ambientes com a utilização de rotores dessecantes. A escolha do coletor do tipo Fresnel se deu pelo campo de desenvolvimento deste concentrador estar ainda em constante crescimento e pelo fato do mesmo ocupar uma área relativamente pequena quando comparado com outros concentradores solares térmicos, além de sua construção ser simples e de baixo custo quando novamente comparada a outros concentradores solares.

A prototype solar desalination system (SODESAL) with a parabolic-trough solar concentrator (PTSC) and evacuated tube was designed and analyzed to determine the solar thermal capabilities for small-scale distillation and energy generation. A proof-of-concept study verified that distillation is possible with the system as designed, however a rupture occurred in the copper heat-pipe heat exchanger due to overheating. The internal temperatures of an aluminum heat transfer fin were measured inside an evacuated tube typically used in solar water heater systems to understand the lateral heat distribution and identify possible causes of the rupture. Solar radiation was measured for both the summer and winter solstices to understand the relationship between incident solar radiation and the potential freshwater yield of the system. The lateral heat distribution of the AHTF is dependent upon the PTSC’s solar incident angle. A consistent lateral heat distribution occurred across the AHTF approximately 40 mins after solar noon. The temperature difference between each end of the AHTF can exceed over 225 °C leading up to and following solar noon when the PTSC was set at a static slope. The SODESAL system’s future applications, system improvements and additional research are also discussed along with the capability of small-scale CSP systems.

High efficiency multi-junction (MJ) solar cells were packaged onto receiver systems. The efficiency change of concentrator cells under continuous high intensity illumination was done. Also, assessment of the receiver design on the overall performance of a Fresnel-type concentration system was investigated. We present on receiver designs including simulation results of their three-dimensional thermal operation and experimental results of tested packaged receivers to understand their efficiency in real world operation. Thermal measurements from solar simulators were obtained and used to calibrate the model in simulations. The best tested efficiency of 36.5% is obtained on a sample A receiver under 260 suns concentration by the XT-30 solar simulator and the corresponding cell operating temperature is ~30.5°C. The optimum copper thickness of a 5 cm by 5 cm simulated alumina receiver design was determined to be 6 mm and the corresponding cell temperature under 1000 suns concentration is ~36°C during operation.

High efficiency multi-junction (MJ) solar cells were packaged onto receiver systems. The efficiency change of concentrator cells under continuous high intensity illumination was done. Also, assessment of the receiver design on the overall performance of a Fresnel-type concentration system was investigated. We present on receiver designs including simulation results of their three-dimensional thermal operation and experimental results of tested packaged receivers to understand their efficiency in real world operation. Thermal measurements from solar simulators were obtained and used to calibrate the model in simulations. The best tested efficiency of 36.5% is obtained on a sample A receiver under 260 suns concentration by the XT-30 solar simulator and the corresponding cell operating temperature is ~30.5°C. The optimum copper thickness of a 5 cm by 5 cm simulated alumina receiver design was determined to be 6 mm and the corresponding cell temperature under 1000 suns concentration is ~36°C during operation.

High efficiency multi-junction (MJ) solar cells were packaged onto receiver systems. The efficiency change of concentrator cells under continuous high intensity illumination was done. Also, assessment of the receiver design on the overall performance of a Fresnel-type concentration system was investigated. We present on receiver designs including simulation results of their three-dimensional thermal operation and experimental results of tested packaged receivers to understand their efficiency in real world operation. Thermal measurements from solar simulators were obtained and used to calibrate the model in simulations. The best tested efficiency of 36.5% is obtained on a sample A receiver under 260 suns concentration by the XT-30 solar simulator and the corresponding cell operating temperature is ~30.5°C. The optimum copper thickness of a 5 cm by 5 cm simulated alumina receiver design was determined to be 6 mm and the corresponding cell temperature under 1000 suns concentration is ~36°C during operation.

High efficiency multi-junction (MJ) solar cells were packaged onto receiver systems. The efficiency change of concentrator cells under continuous high intensity illumination was done. Also, assessment of the receiver design on the overall performance of a Fresnel-type concentration system was investigated. We present on receiver designs including simulation results of their three-dimensional thermal operation and experimental results of tested packaged receivers to understand their efficiency in real world operation. Thermal measurements from solar simulators were obtained and used to calibrate the model in simulations. The best tested efficiency of 36.5% is obtained on a sample A receiver under 260 suns concentration by the XT-30 solar simulator and the corresponding cell operating temperature is ~30.5°C. The optimum copper thickness of a 5 cm by 5 cm simulated alumina receiver design was determined to be 6 mm and the corresponding cell temperature under 1000 suns concentration is ~36°C during operation.

The topic of this thesis is solar pump Neodymium doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet laser, the research of characteristics is that natural sunlight is used as pumped source in instead of diode laser, pulsed Xenon lamp, Krypton arc lamp¡Ketc. In order to reduce use of electric power. By using solar concentrator system, concentration is reached to 8.89 ¡Ñ (10^10). This ratio is set to end pump Neodymium doped YAG. The output power is up to 17.54mW, and the laser slope efficiency is up to 0.04% . On application, If lasers are needed in remote locations where sunlight is abundant and other forms of energy are scarce, a solar laser would seem to be a natural choice.

Concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems are a key step in expanding the use of solar energy. Solar cells can operate at increased efficiencies under higher solar concentration and replacing solar cells with optical devices to capture light is an effective method of decreasing the cost of a system without compromising the amount of solar energy absorbed. CPV systems are however still in a stage of development where new designs, methods and materials are still being created in order to reach a low levelled cost of energy comparable to standard silicon based photovoltaic (PV) systems. This work outlines the different types of concentration photovoltaic systems, their various design advantages and limitations, and noticeable trends. Comparisons on materials, optical efficiency and optical tolerance (acceptance angle) are made in the literature review as well as during theoretical and experimental investigations. The subject of surface structure and its implications on concentrator optics has been discussed in detail while highlighting the need for enhanced considerations towards material and hence the surface quality of optics. All of the findings presented contribute to the development of higher performance CPV technologies. Specifically high and ultrahigh concentrator designs and the accompanied need for high accuracy high quality optics has been supported. A simulation method has been presented which gives attention to surface scattering which can decrease the optical efficiency by 10-40% (absolute value) depending on the material and manufacturing method. New plastic optics and support structures have been proposed and experimentally tested including the use of a conjugate refractive-reflective homogeniser (CRRH). The CRRH uses a reflective outer casing to capture any light rays which have failed total internal reflection (TIR) due to non-ideal surface topography. The CRRH was theoretically simulated and found to improve the optical efficiency of a cassegrain concentrator by a maximum of 7.75%. A prototype was built and tested where the power output increase when utilising the CRRH was a promising 4.5%. The 3D printed support structure incorporated for the CRRH however melted under focused light, which reached temperatures of 226.3°C, when tested at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Chennai India. The need for further research into prototyping methods and materials for novel optics was also demonstrated as well as the advantages of broadening CPV technology into the fields of biomimicry. The cabbage white butterfly was proven to concentrate light onto its thorax using its highly reflective and lightweight wings in a basking V-shape not unlike V-trough concentrators. These wings were measured to have a unique structure consisting of ellipsoidal pterin beads aligned in ladder like structures on each wing scale which itself is then tiled in a roof like pattern on the wing. Such structures of a reflective material may be the answer to lightweight materials capable of increasing the power to weight ratio of CPV technology greatly. Experimental testing of the large cabbage white wings with a silicon solar cell confirmed a 17x greater power to weight ratio in comparison to the same set up with reflective film instead of the wings. An ultrahigh design was proposed taking into account manufacturing considerations and material options. The geometrical design was of 5800x of which an optical efficiency of either ~75% with state of the art optics should produce and effective concentration of ~4300x. Relatively standard quality optics on the other hand should give an optical efficiency of ~55% and concentration ratio ~3000x. A prototype of the system is hypothesised to fall between these two predictions. Ultrahigh designs can be realised if the design process is as comprehensive as possible, considering materials, surface structure, component combinations, anti-reflective coatings, manufacturing processes and alignment methods. Most of which have been addressed in this work and the accompanied articles. Higher concentration designs have been shown to have greater advantages in terms of the environmental impact, efficiency and cost effectiveness. But these benefits can only be realised if designs take into account the aforementioned factors. Most importantly surface structure plays a big role in the performance of ultrahigh concentrator photovoltaics. One of the breakthroughs for solar concentrator technology was the discovery of PMMA and its application for Fresnel lenses. It is hence not an unusual notion that further breakthroughs in the optics for concentrator photovoltaic applications will be largely due to the development of new materials for its purpose. In order to make the necessary leaps in solar concentrator optics to efficient cost effective PV technologies, future novel designs should consider not only novel geometries but also the effect of different materials and surface structures. There is still a vast potential for what materials and hence surface structures could be utilised for solar concentrator designs especially if inspiration is taken from biological structures already proven to manipulate light.

In this thesis I deal with the issue of stand-alone solar system development. This system ensures the supply of all the energy needed for a reference house. It consists of a solar concentrator and a heat reservoir. I used mathematical models to solve this issue. The calculations showed, that the concentration of solar radiation into the heat reservoir can usually achieve 69 % efficiency. The efficiency can be even higher when using a very reflective materials of the solar concentrator. In this thesis, the thermal reservoir is described and its improvements are suggested based on the optimization calculations. Thanks to knowledge gained during solving this issue, a prototype of the stand-alone solar system is going to be built. All findings will be experimentally verified with this prototype.