OPTICAL AND THERMAL TESTING OF A NEW 1.12X CPC SOLAR COLLECTOR

A new CPC collector is described and tested, both optically and therma lly, in different configurations. This CPC has a receiver shaped as an inverted ''V'', which was conceived to accommodate a large gap betwee n itself and the reflector, without optical losses, a novelty which di stinguishes this device from others previously proposed. Its acceptanc e angle was chosen to be large (56.4 degrees, before truncation, and 7 6 degrees after truncation) in order to allow for both fully stationar y E.W. and N.S. possible orientations for the collector to be used. Co llector height was chosen to allow for the inclusion of convection sup pression mechanisms, to enhance the thermal performance of the collect or at high temperature. Measurements of instantaneous efficiency are p resented, for the collector in E.W. and N.S. orientation. Measurements are also presented for the instantaneous efficiency when a double cov er configuration achieved with a Teflon film and a transparent insulat ion material of the honeycomb type are included. It is shown that the collector's low heat losses are reduced by roughly 30% trough the addi tion of such convection suppression devices. Based on these results, t he average yearly performance is calculated and compared with the ener gy delivered by other collector types (flat pates, evacuated tubular c ollectors). It is shown that, up to 100 degrees C, the present collect or outperforms the others, and has a cost which is comparable, if not potentially lower than conventional flat plates.