Experimental Investigation on Performance of Fresnel lens Concentrator in Iraqi Climate

Abstract

This work an experimental study to use extremes sunrays temperature using a container tank receiver with a Fresnel lens concentrator. Cubical steel water tank (20 cm each side) which was manufactured with different metal finned cover, namely steel and aluminum, are used. The tank was placed in the focus of the lens to study the distribution of temperature in the tank. The Fresnel lens concentrator is controlled to track the sunlight and maintain the focal stationery. The experimental tests are performed with local weather conditions in Najaf city/Iraq. The results indicated that the highest focal temperature recorded was 258.6 ° C when the ambient temperature was 24.6 ° C and the solar radiation was 1251 W/m² of the steel finned cover of the container. The results showed that the Fresnel lens concentrator can be implemented for melting phase change material (PCM) or heating water applications