A comprehensive optical characterization of linear Fresnel collectors by means of an analytic study

Linear Fresnel collectors lead to a reduction of investment costs compared to parabolic trough collectors, but it is not yet certain whether this implies a reduction of levelyzed cost of electricity or not. In order to analyze the optical behavior of concentrators ray trace models are often used. However, such methodology leads to time-consuming codes that make difficult to optimize all design variables. In this work an analytic method is used in order to characterize the effect of the design variables on the annual energy impinging onto the reflecting surface, and results for two different locations are compared. The paper leads to the notable conclusion that the ratio of energy impinging onto the reflecting surface of Fresnel collectors is closer to that of parabolic troughs at low latitude locations. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.