Enhancement of concentration using simple multi-plane mirrors

This paper describes an analytical study of a stationary (i.e. non-tracking) and a non-stationary (i.e. tracking) concentrator composed of plane mirrors. For the stationary concentrator, side wall mirrors are symmetric about the E-W normal plane. For the tracking concentrator, the base is flat and is surrounded on all four sides by plane mirros at different angles to the vertical. It has been concluded that the concentration factor depends upon the mirror angles, the acceptance angle and the number of plane mirror panels. Concentration increases with an increase in the number of reflecting plane mirror panels and is 6·8 for an acceptance angle [delta] = 6° and I = 6. Fixing the acceptance angle in turn determines the seasonal adjustment of the concentrator. For the tracking concentrator, the concentration is ~ 20 for six mirror panels, the mirror angle difference between two consecutive mirrors being 4°.