The high radiative flux solar furnaces already in operation, and the furnaces to be built in the future, have large concentrators consisting of multiple facets. It is, therefore, necessary to have an alignment procedure of the facets that guarantee the accuracy of alignment, allowing an alignment in a short time. This chapter presents a novel method for aligning the facets of a large concentrator, which uses a single optical system to achieve the required precision and the desired energy distribution in the focal plane. Simulation and experimental results obtained with our procedure show that the proposed alignment satisfactorily meets the specifications.
Part of the book: Renewable Energy