A Novel 50kW 11,000 suns High-Flux Solar Simulator Based on an Array of Xenon Arc Lamps

Petrasch, Joerg; Coray, Patrick; Meier, Anton; Brack, Max; Häberling, Peter; Wuillemin, Daniel; Steinfeld, Aldo

doi:10.1115/1.2769701

Cited by 199 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Shutters positioned in the path of the beam enable gradual adjustment of the power supplied to the sample. The spectral power distribution of solar radiation generally approximates that of a black body at 5505 o C which is similar to that of the xenon arc bulbs, but with some significant divergence, mostly in the infra-red region due to the Xe emission lines, as discussed by Petrasch et al (2007) and Alxneit & Schmit (2012). Also, there is some slight variation of the spectrum of the concentrated radiation from the HFSS over the area of the focus which would not be expected for real concentrated solar radiation (Alxneit & Schmit 2012).…”

Section: High Flux Solar Simulator (Hfss)mentioning

confidence: 67%

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Use of concentrated radiation for solar powered glass melting experiments

2014

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To investigate the feasibility of using concentrated solar radiation to provide process heat for glass production, a high flux solar simulator was used to melt glass forming batches. Initial experiments involved melting various glass forming batches which demonstrated that rapid and full conversion of the crystalline raw materials into an x-ray amorphous vitreous state was possible. A pure silica batch produced an x-ray amorphous product but it was not possible to refine the melt in these exploratory tests. A powdered, ternary soda-lime-silica (SLS) glass forming batch melted vigorously, with rapid gas removal, resulting in a completely transparent glass. Industrial SLS pellets were subsequently used in semi-continuous melting experiments, whereby the batch was intermittently fed into the melting zone while the beam was kept on. Additional secondary heating and insulation around outlet of the melting zone was required to achieve a semi-continuous flow of molten glass to an output crucible.

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Section: High Flux Solar Simulator (Hfss)mentioning

confidence: 67%

“…The PSI High Flux Solar Simulator (HFSS) (Petrasch et al 2007) (Figure 2) was used to investigate the use of concentrated radiation for glass melting. The HFSS consists of an array of ten, independently controlled, xenon arc bulbs (U UXW W Wel).…”

Section: High Flux Solar Simulator (Hfss)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of concentrated radiation for solar powered glass melting experiments

2014

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“…The aim of the device is to expose thermally thick beech wood samples to radiative heat flux above 1 MW/m 2 (1000 suns). In order to achieve such high heat flux, an artificial sun was used [28][29][30][31]. Two main parameters were varied during this study: initial moisture content and fiber orientation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomass gasification under high solar heat flux: Experiments on thermally thick samples

Pozzobon

Salvador

Bézian

2016

Fuel

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gasification under high solar heat flux: Experiments on thermally thick samples. Fuel, Elsevier, 2016, 174, pp.257-266 Beech wood is exposed to radiative heat flux higher than 1000 kW/m 2 . Sample geometry evolves dramatically. Temperature higher than 1500°C are reached. Tar yield is lowered by thermal cracking and steam reforming. Initial moisture content plays key role in the biomass behavior. t r a c tIn this study, thermally thick samples of beech wood are exposed to radiative heat flux above 1 MW/m 2 (1000 suns). It was motivated by the fact that concentrated solar energy allows to achieve temperatures higher than 1200 °C where char gasification, tar thermal cracking and tar steam reforming can take place. It is achieved using a new experimental device made of an artificial sun and a new reaction chamber, that monitors the sample mass throughout a run and can trap the produced tars using a liquid nitrogen cooled tar condensing device. Thanks to this experimental device, it is possible to compute the average wood consumption rate as well as drying water, char, gas and tar production rates. The produced light gases are also analyzed using microGC. Furthermore, a radiometer is used to monitor surface temperature, which is around 1500 °C. First, a new behavior has been highlighted. Under high radiative heat flux, a char crater which mirrored incident heat flux distribution, is formed inside of the sample. Then, using this device, the impact of two major parameters was tested: wood fiber orientation relative to the solar flux and initial moisture content. Wood fiber orientation (end grain and with the grain) was shown to only have a minor impact on the production rates, gas composition and crater formation. Three initial moisture contents (0, 9 and 55 %wb) were tested. It was shown that increasing the sample moisture leads to direct drying steam gasification of the char produced by the pyrolysis. Moreover, steam also promotes tar steam reforming and therefore decreases the tar yield. Finally, form an energetic point of view, the dry samples can achieve an energetic conversion efficiency of 90%, capturing up to 72% of the incident solar power in chemical form.

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“…They are available in high power single bulb configurations which can be coupled with a single ellipsoidal mirror, resulting in a tightly controlled spot size (Petrasch et al, 2007). However, high power xenon arc lamps and their associated drive electronics are expensive products, with nearly 10 times the costs-per-watt than commodity light sources.…”

Section: Light Sourcementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Custom made solar simulators have been built to provide the intensities necessary for CSP research, ranging from 30-100 kW/m 2 (30-100 suns) and upward, but have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. These research simulators utilize high power xenon arc lamps, precision engineered optical elements and active cooling circuits (Hirsch et al, 2003, Jaworske, 1996, Kuhn, 1991, Petrasch et al, 2007.…”

Section: Cspmentioning

confidence: 99%

A low cost high flux solar simulator

et al. 2010

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Abstract:A low cost, high flux, large area solar simulator has been designed, built and characterized for the purpose of studying optical melting and light absorption behavior of molten salts. Seven 1500 W metal halide outdoor stadium lights are used as the light source to simulate concentrating solar power (CSP) heliostat output. Metal halide bulbs and ballasts are far less costly per-watt than typical xenon arc lamp solar simulator light sources. They provide a satisfactory match to natural sunlight; although 'unfiltered' metal halide lights have irradiance peaks between 800-1000 nm representing an additional 5% of measured energy output as compared to terrestrial solar irradiance over the same range. With the use of a secondary conical concentrator, output fluxes of approximately 60 kW/m 2 (60 suns) peak and 45 kW/ m 2 (45 suns) average are achieved across a 38 cm diameter output aperture. Unique to the design of this simulator, the tilt angle and distance between the output aperture and the ground are adjustable to accommodate test receivers of varying geometry. Use of off-the-shelf structural, lighting and electrical components keeps the fabrication cost below $10,000.

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A Novel 50kW 11,000 suns High-Flux Solar Simulator Based on an Array of Xenon Arc Lamps

Cited by 199 publications

References 10 publications

Use of concentrated radiation for solar powered glass melting experiments

Use of concentrated radiation for solar powered glass melting experiments

Biomass gasification under high solar heat flux: Experiments on thermally thick samples

A low cost high flux solar simulator

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