Comparison of optical performance of concentrators suitable for thermal applications

The paper focuses on six different concentrator configurations to provide better insight into the geometrical-optical performance of six different configurations are Elliptical Parabolic Concentrator (EPC), Circular Parabolic Concentrator (CCPC) and Square Parabolic Concentrator (SPC), Elliptical Hyperboloid Concentrator (EHC); Circular Hyperboloid Concentrator (CHC) and Square Hyperboloid Concentrator (SHC). In this study the most commonly used optical elements are compared with some newer designs of concentrators for their optical performance. Detailed analysis is performed using ray tracing technique to identify the important parameters affecting the overall performance of these concentrators. Finally, results are summarised showing the best practices to be employed for different thermal applications. The simulation analysis indicates that the parabolic geometry profiles (EPC, CCPC, SPC) achieve high optical efficiency values. The CCPC demonstrates the highest optical efficiency at 92% but has a narrow acceptance angle of ±15 degrees. The SPC achieves an optical efficiency of 85% with the same acceptance angle. In contrast, the EPC has a lower optical efficiency of 33% but offers a wider acceptance angle of ±30 degrees, twice that of the EPC. For the hyperboloid geometry profiles (EHC, CHC, SHC), the EHC achieves a maximum theoretical optical efficiency of 28% with an acceptance angle of ±30 degrees. The CHC exhibits a lower optical efficiency of 21% but with a narrower acceptance angle of ±15 degrees. The SHC attains an optical efficiency of 39% with an acceptance angle of ±30 degrees.