Glass and Polymeric Mirrors Ageing under different Moroccan Weathers, an Application for CSP Power Plants

Abstract

CSP technology has a huge potential. However, all the components used in the energy generation process are not yet optimized. Reflectors are one of the most important devices to improve, as the efficiency of the power plant is directly linked to their high performance. Because reflectors are costly and cannot be changed frequently, their reflectivity should be maintained as long as possible. For this reason it is important to study their durability under real operation weather conditions. Natural ageing allows the determination of real lifetime mirrors characteristics and better understanding of their degradation mechanisms. For this investigation, polymeric and glass mirrors were exposed in two Moroccan sites with characteristic weather conditions, one close to the ocean and one in the desert, for more than one year of natural ageing. Different characterization techniques such as optical microscopy and UV-Visible-NIR spectophotometry were used to detect and analyze degradation mechanisms. The obtained results are shown in this paper and a comparison of mirrors behavior is proposed depending on the outdoor exposure sites. It can be noted that the desertic conditions are less aggressive than coastal conditions regarding to physico-chemical degradation of both investigated mirror materials.

Chemical Degradation and Color Changes of Paint Protective Coatings Used in Solar Glass Mirrors

“…Three types of commercial monolithic silvered-glass from manufacturers 1 and 2 with different glass thicknesses (two thick mirrors (A1 and C2) and one thin sample (D2)) have been subject to weathering tests on two different exposure sites in Morocco (marine and desert sites). The description and the detailed composition of each mirror have been given in a previous publication [6]. Tested mirrors were cut from larger mirrors supplied by manufacturers with at least one protected edge.…”

“…Moreover, those research programs should 2 of 17 provide information and recommendations to policy-makers. Within this context, MAScIR (Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research) has launched in collaboration with CEA (Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, France) a study that has as main objective testing the durability of solar mirrors used for CSP plants under different Moroccan weather conditions [4][5][6][7][8][9][10].…”

Addressing Soiling: From Interface Chemistry to Practicality

“…The literature is concerned with the soiling of PV 37 and concentrating solar power (CSP), 38,39 and typically provides a basic correlation with the loss of optical transmittance and the degradation mode(s). In other cases, artificial abrasion methods are performed 40 without the critical correlation to damage from natural weathering.…”

Electrodeposition of δ-phase based Cu–Sn mirror alloy from sulfate-aqueous electrolyte for solar reflector application

“…Although photovoltaic conversion has technologically matured rapidly, 'Concentrating Solar Power aluminium [17] with an additional protective polymer coating. Comparative optical tests [18] were carried out and reported earlier on these materials, mainly to correlate the efficiency as a function of exposure/ service time in a solar concentrator [19]. With the above backdrop, research based on developing newer reflector materials with inherently high specular reflectance and corrosion resistance has attained a greater significance in recent times.…”