Page 37 - Design of Solar Thermal Power Plants
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30 1. INTRODUCTION
1.2.3.1 Optic Terms
1. Absorber.
Element of the receiver absorbing radiant solar energy and
transferring it to a fluid in the form of heat.
2. Concentrator aperture area.
The maximum projected area of solar irradiation intercepted by the
concentrator, which is actually the sum of all mirror areas in a
concentrator.
This is different from the contour area. The concentrator contour
area contains the clearance between reflective glasses and is
normally larger than the aperture area.
3. Solar collector net aperture area.
The area of the perpendicular projection over the aperture plane of
the solar collector reflecting/refracting components. In a line
focusing system it is this surface plus the part of the perpendicular
projection of the steel receiver tube onto the aperture plane that
does not overlap, provided that the sun-oriented side of the
receiver is absorbing radiation. For LFR and heliostat: the net
aperture area of a Fresnel collector or heliostat is defined as the sum
of the net collecting areas of its mirror segments. The net aperture
area of a mirror segment is the perpendicular projection of the
reflective mirror area over its aperture plane when they are in
horizontal position.
4. Solar collector gross aperture area.
The area of the flat surface defined by the outer perimeter of the
collector, including the gaps between adjacent reflectors. This
definition may be used for modules, heliostats, heliostat fields,
parabolic dishes, LFRs, etc., as well as complete concentrating
collectors.
5. Optical concentration ratio.
Ratio of the average irradiance integrated over the receiver area to
irradiance incident on the solar collector aperture, also called as
flux concentration ratio.
6. Geometric concentration ratio.
The ratio of the collector aperture area to the receiver aperture area.
7. Receiver net collection area.
The maximum receiver flat area that accepts concentrated solar
radiation. It is given by the sum of the products of the active length
and diameter of the receiver elements that compose the receiver.
8. Solar field
The part of the CSP plant that collects and concentrates beam solar
radiation. In CSP plants with a parabolic trough collector or Fresnel
linear collectors, the solar field is composed of a set of solar collectors
and their piping interconnections and headers. In a central receiver