A method to calculate Fresnel lenses
Abstract
In solar engineering, in contrast to image optics, Fresnel lenses are intended for securing the required concentrations of solar radiation and its distribution over a receiver’s surface. It is also important to secure a high use coefficient of the concentrated flux. In particular, this defines the features of calculation of Fresnel lenses: it is necessary to take into account inaccuracies in fabrication of Fresnel lenses and solar radiation redistribution by means of selecting the respective parameters of Fresnel lens belts. In the present work, we examine the procedure for the calculating geometrical parameters of Fresnel lenses on a flat base by considering the mentioned requirements. A corresponding software for calculating the geometrical parameters and concentrating characteristics of the Fresnel lenses is developed, and examples of calculation are given. For a constant refractive index of Fresnel lens material, it is shown that the Fresnel lens can secure a concentration of about 1000, but in this case the optical efficiency of the Fresnel lens will not be higher than 70%. The procedure that has been developed may be the basic one for determining the parameters and concentrating characteristics of Fresnel lenses by considering refractive index variance.