Timothy J. Wendelin

Field Survey of Parabolic Trough Receiver Thermal Performance

This paper describes a technique that uses an infrared (IR) camera to evaluate the in-situ thermal performance of parabolic trough receivers at operating solar power plants. The paper includes results to show how the glass temperature measured with the IR camera correlates with modeled thermal losses from the receiver. Finally, the paper presents results of a field survey that used this technique to quickly sample a large number of receivers to develop a better understanding of how both original and replacement receivers are performing after up to 17 years of operational service.

A method to assess flux hazards at CSP plants to reduce avian mortality

A method to evaluate avian flux hazards at concentrating solar power plants (CSP) has been developed. A heat-transfer model has been coupled to simulations of the irradiance in the airspace above a CSP plant to determine the feather temperature along prescribed bird flight paths. Probabilistic modeling results show that the irradiance and assumed feather properties (thickness, absorptance, heat capacity) have the most significant impact on the simulated feather temperature, which can increase rapidly (hundreds of degrees Celsius in seconds) depending on the parameter values. The avian flux hazard model is being combined with a plant performance model to identify alternative heliostat standby aiming strategies that minimize both avian flux hazards and negative impacts on plant performance.