OPTICAL-PERFORMANCE OF CONICAL WINDOWS FOR CONCENTRATED SOLAR-RADIATION

Radiative energy transfer through a truncated cone window with a back- plane reflector is considered. This geometry is proposed for a high-pr essure direct-radiation (volumetric) central solar receiver for use in combined-cycle electricity generation. The transmission and loss char acteristics, computed by ray-tracing, are parameterized by the angle o f incident radiation relative to the cone axis. The overall performanc e of the window is an integral of the angle-dependent transmission dat a, weighted by the actual distribution of input radiation, over all in cidence angles. This parameterization provides insight and assists in tailoring of the window geometry to different solar collection methods . Results are presented for several window geometries. Overall window performance is presented for a dish-type distribution of input radiati on.