The initial prototype design and characterization of a small-scale concentrating solar thermal system will be presented. A large Fresnel lens, with an area of 0.77 square meters on a two-axis tracking mount, is used to concentrate the solar energy and focus it to an area of a few square centimeters. The system design and the first prototype testing will be discussed. By leveraging concentration to achieve the maximum solar-to-thermal energy efficiency and low cost, the system is unique compared to currently available residential hot water systems.

Date Published: 7 October 2014
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 9175, High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Energy Applications IX, 917507 (7 October 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2062081

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9175:
High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Energy Applications IX
Adam P. Plesniak; Candace Pfefferkorn, Editor(s)