Possible cost advantage of a primary paraboloid/secondary hyperboloid tandem solar concentrator

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 37; no. 6; pp. 397 - 404
• Main Author: Gray, E.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 1986
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/0038-092X(86)90029-0

We report a comparison between an efficiency-optimised parabaloidal concentrator and an efficiency-optimised tandem concentrator consisting of a primary paraboloid and focus-mounted secondary hyperboloid. The performance improvement (or otherwise) of a tandem collector (concentrator plus cavity receiver) is expressed as a relaxed paraboloid slope error and translated into a manufacturing cost advantage. At 900°C a cost advantage of a few percent is predicted. We conclude that a tandem collector based on a Brayton-cycle engine operating at 1200°C could be economically attractive.