Computational method for optimizing segmented nonimaging concentrators

Christine Hoffman; Boaz Ilan

doi:10.1117/12.2570725

20 August 2020 Computational method for optimizing segmented nonimaging concentrators

Christine Hoffman, Boaz Ilan

Proceedings Volume 11495, Nonimaging Optics: Efficient Design for Illumination and Solar Concentration XVII; 1149508 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2570725
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2020, Online Only

Abstract

We propose a computational optimization method for designing segmented nonimaging concentrators with planar or tubular absorbers. Concentrators are represented as concatenated linear segments, forming a faceted reflector. Ray tracing is then employed to compute the optical concentration ratio equivalent for a given concentrator configuration. The user may chose to systematically optimize the locations of the concentrator vertices or the interior angles between adjacent segments. Since gradient-based solvers become easily trapped in local minima for this problem, generalized pattern search is used to obtain optimized concentrator configurations. For a small and fixed number of segments, we show that optimized segmented concentrators preform better than an equivalent number of uniformly spaced segments of the collocated ideal shape. We also show that concentrators with a lower number of segments are more robust to manufacturing errors.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Christine Hoffman and Boaz Ilan "Computational method for optimizing segmented nonimaging concentrators", Proc. SPIE 11495, Nonimaging Optics: Efficient Design for Illumination and Solar Concentration XVII, 1149508 (20 August 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2570725

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available