Fresnel Lens Soiling Characterization and Effect Upon Performance

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

7-19-2009

Publication Title

Proceedings of the ASME 3rd International Conference on Energy Sustainability

Publisher

ASME

Volume

1

First page number:

979

Last page number:

984

Abstract

The Amonix system is a high concentration PV system that utilizes acrylic Fresnel lenses to focus the sun’s rays onto dispersed PV cells. The Fresnel lenses become soiled with dust over time which decreases power performance. Because of the effect soiling has upon the system performance, Amonix and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) have defined a long term soiling investigation and cleaning methodology. The test and measurement procedure for determining Fresnel lens soiling rate characterization is discussed. Lens soiling rate data is presented for different sites that show the soiling rate is a direct function of the angle of the lens. This paper also discusses the test and measurement procedure of the first phase of an on-going Fresnel lens cleaning investigation. An assessment of the soiling rate upon power production is also presented.

Keywords

Fresnel lenses – Cleaning; Lenses (Optics); Photovoltaic power generation; Solar concentrators –Efficiency

Disciplines

Energy Systems | Materials Science and Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Oil, Gas, and Energy | Sustainability

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

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