Eye hazard and glint evaluation for the 5-MW/sub t/ Solar Thermal Test Facility

Abstract

UC-62 Potential eye hazards associated with concentrated reflected light are evaluated for the ERDA 5-MW t Solar Thermal Test Facility to be constructed at Sandia Laboratories. Albuquerque. New Mexico. Light intensities and hazardous ranges of single and multiple coincident heliostat beams are evaluated at ground level and in the air space above the facility. Possible long-range and short-range effects of distractive effects of reflected beams are discussed. Also described are certain beam control modifications which were incorporated to minimize the altitudes at which overflying aircraft could encounter unsafe levels. Recommendations are made for further evaluation of intensity excursions during fail-safe shutdown situations. and for experiments to verify analytical models and to assess distractive glint effects.

Determination of Glint and Glare of Heliostat Fields Integrated on Building Façades.

“…Following methodology used in previous works [4] [9], two key parameters have been used to characterize the phenomenon of glare and assess the ocular impact: the retinal irradiance and the subtended angle (size) of the source. The relation between these parameters enables to define the situations where permanent eye damage or temporary blinding can occur.…”

“…The relation between these parameters enables to define the situations where permanent eye damage or temporary blinding can occur. Brumleve [4], based on results from previous works [10], proposed the expressions for the lower threshold from which permanent eye damage could occur:…”

“…Over the last years, with the implementations of the first commercial CSP power plants, the relevance that the characterization of glare is acquiring is increasing, due to the impact they can have on the ocular health of potential observers located close the facility, as well as the workers of the installation. Brumleve pioneered the study of glare in central receiver technology [4]. He studied this phenomenon for the ERDA 5 MW th facility of Sandia Laboratories (Albuquerque), analyzing potential hazards that could cause radiation reflected from heliostats over an observer located at ground level, as well as in the air space above the facility.…”

A Study of the Hazardous Glare Potential to Aviators from Utility-Scale Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Systems

“…The effects of glare on humans has been quantified by Metcalf and Horn [2], Saur and Dobrash [3], Severin et al [4], and Sliney and Freasier [5]. In other studies Brumleve [6], Chiabrando et al [7], and Ho et al [1] developed mathematical methods to quantify the potential danger of glare causing flash blindness. Flash blindness is defined by Ho as a "temporary disability or distraction" that can cause an afterimage and is understood to be comparable to what a human experiences when viewing the flash of a camera.…”

Assessment of solar options for small power systems applications. Volume III. Analysis of concepts

“…The potential eye hazard zone is generally confined to 20 to 30 m on either side of the focal point; the shorter focal length beams are the most hazardous (Brumleve 1977).…”