CONCENTRATION DISTRIBUTIONS IN CYLINDRICAL RECEIVER PARABOLOIDAL DISH CONCENTRATOR SYSTEMS

Concentration distributions on a cylindrical receiver in a paraboloidal dish concentrator are computed for space applications (no atmosphere). A geometric optics method is applied which integrates over the solar disk and the concentrator projected surface, and maps analytically, in implicit closed form, through the concentrator and onto the receiver. Finite sunshape, concentrator surface errors, and pointing system zero-mean and constant offset errors are considered. Results define the section of the receiver surface which receives the majority of the concentrated flux, where the receiver's aperture might be located. Results are given in terms of concentrator geometry, concentrator total system error tolerance, receiver geometry, and pointing offset error. In cases with pointing offset error (nonzero mean pointing error), circumferentially varying concentration distributions are shown.