A 24 kW metal halide Lamp-Based High-Flux solar simulator

IF 5.4 3区工程技术 Q2 ENERGY & FUELS

Thermal Science and Engineering Progress Pub Date : 2025-10-01 DOI:10.1016/j.tsep.2025.104169

Dilip Kumar , Vaibhav Kumar Arghode

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

A 24 kW high-flux solar simulator (HFSS) was designed, developed, and characterized to replicate concentrated solar radiation for high-temperature solar thermal applications. The HFSS consists of four 6 kW metal halide lamps, each coupled with ellipsoidal reflectors to achieve focused radiant heat flux at its secondary focal plane. To optimize the HFSS’s optical performance, a Monte Carlo ray tracing simulation was conducted to analyze light propagation within the lamp-reflector system and determine the plane of maximum heat flux. The accuracy of this simulation heavily depends on the arc source geometry, which plays a critical role in modeling the lamp-reflector configuration. The present work evaluates three different arc geometries viz. elliptical, cylindrical, and spherical. The elliptical arc source model, with a minor diameter of 10 mm and a major diameter of 23 mm, exhibited the closest agreement with experimental data. Notably, experimental results revealed that the plane of maximum heat flux did not coincide with the actual secondary focus of the reflector but rather occurred at a virtual secondary focus (VSF) located slightly above it. Experimental measurements recorded peak heat flux of 263 kW/m² for a single-lamp configuration and 647 kW/m² for the four-lamp module, while simulations based on the elliptical arc model predicted corresponding values of 275 kW/m² and 830 kW/m². A total radiant power output of 6.81 kW, corresponding to an energy transfer efficiency of 28.37 %, was recorded on a target area with a diameter of 170 mm at the virtual secondary focus (VSF) plane. These findings contribute to the advancement of HFSS technology, offering improved design methodologies for applications requiring intense and controlled solar irradiation.

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基于24千瓦金属卤化物灯的高通量太阳能模拟器

设计、开发了24 kW高通量太阳模拟器（HFSS），并对其进行了表征，以模拟高温太阳能热应用中的集中太阳辐射。HFSS由四个6kw的金属卤化物灯组成，每个灯都与椭球反射器相结合，以在其二次焦平面上实现集中的辐射热通量。为了优化HFSS的光学性能，采用蒙特卡罗射线追踪模拟方法分析了光在灯-反射器系统中的传播，确定了最大热流密度平面。这种模拟的准确性在很大程度上取决于弧源的几何形状，这在模拟灯反射器配置中起着至关重要的作用。本研究评估了三种不同的圆弧几何形状，即椭圆圆弧、圆柱圆弧和球面圆弧。椭圆弧源模型的小直径为10 mm，大直径为23 mm，与实验数据最吻合。值得注意的是，实验结果表明，最大热流密度平面并不与反射镜的实际二次焦点重合，而是发生在稍微高于其的虚拟二次焦点（VSF）上。实验测量记录了单灯配置的峰值热通量为263 kW/m2，四灯模块的峰值热通量为647 kW/m2，而基于椭圆弧模型的模拟预测了相应的值为275 kW/m2和830 kW/m2。在直径为170 mm的虚拟二次焦（VSF）平面上，测量到的总辐射功率输出为6.81 kW，能量传递效率为28.37%。这些发现有助于HFSS技术的进步，为需要强烈和受控太阳辐射的应用提供改进的设计方法。

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来源期刊

Thermal Science and Engineering Progress Chemical Engineering-Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

10.40%

发文量

327

审稿时长

41 days

期刊介绍： Thermal Science and Engineering Progress (TSEP) publishes original, high-quality research articles that span activities ranging from fundamental scientific research and discussion of the more controversial thermodynamic theories, to developments in thermal engineering that are in many instances examples of the way scientists and engineers are addressing the challenges facing a growing population – smart cities and global warming – maximising thermodynamic efficiencies and minimising all heat losses. It is intended that these will be of current relevance and interest to industry, academia and other practitioners. It is evident that many specialised journals in thermal and, to some extent, in fluid disciplines tend to focus on topics that can be classified as fundamental in nature, or are ‘applied’ and near-market. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress will bridge the gap between these two areas, allowing authors to make an easy choice, should they or a journal editor feel that their papers are ‘out of scope’ when considering other journals. The range of topics covered by Thermal Science and Engineering Progress addresses the rapid rate of development being made in thermal transfer processes as they affect traditional fields, and important growth in the topical research areas of aerospace, thermal biological and medical systems, electronics and nano-technologies, renewable energy systems, food production (including agriculture), and the need to minimise man-made thermal impacts on climate change. Review articles on appropriate topics for TSEP are encouraged, although until TSEP is fully established, these will be limited in number. Before submitting such articles, please contact one of the Editors, or a member of the Editorial Advisory Board with an outline of your proposal and your expertise in the area of your review.