Design optimization and optical performance analysis on multi-sectioned compound parabolic concentrator with plane absorber

Abstract The traditional standard compound parabolic concentrator (S-CPC) lacks flexibility in production and application due to its high-precision curved surface structure, and the extremely non-uniform flux distribution on the absorber greatly affects the stability of system. A novel method for performance optimization design of multi-sectioned compound parabolic concentrator (M-CPC) based on exhaustive algorithm was presented in this paper. The prototype model was established according to the outcome of program calculation, and the concentrated optical path of the designed model was studied by laser verification experiment integrating precision apparatus. The result demonstrated that the intersection position on solar cell surface obtained from calculation outcomes were consistent with the experimental consequences. Five kinds of optimized M-CPCs were designed and compared with S-CPC in optical performance. It is found that M-CPC4 is the optimal structure in this design, whose improvement ratio of average optical efficiency and acceptance angle are 1.375% and 47% respectively compared with S-CPC. Moreover, M-CPC4 could significantly reduce the higher energy peak while ameliorating the non-uniform flux distribution on absorber. This will enable the work system to maintain a relatively stable temperature gradient. The proposed design method could provide technical reference on efficient optical efficiency and structure optimization for M-CPC.