Testing results of a second stage concentrator designed for the solar furnace of plataforma solar de Almeria

On this work we present the main test results of a second stage concentrato r (SSC) of the TERC type "Tailored Edge-Ray Concentrator", coupled to the a ctual parabolic primary of the solar furnace of the Plataforma Solar de Alm eria, designed to improve the final concentration and temperature. Differen t options were considered for the SSC, but the primary geometry lead us to choose the TERC one, because it comes closer to the thermodynamic limit and because it is more easy to construct and to use. The TERC design was modif ied to adequate it to the final use and was severely truncated to permit it s placement inside of a vacuum chamber. This last constraint lowered the Gn at concentration and efficiency that we could expect. Anyway the test resul ts show a substantial improvement on the solar furnace performance, which f inal concentration increased 1.4 times and which average flux density incre ased up to 3000kW/m(2) on the TERC exit.