Optical fiber sensor for tracking line-focus solar collectors.
Currently there is a need to provide an alignment monitor feedback signal to the tracking mechanism of line-focus trough-type concentrating solar collectors. We report here on the novel use of an optical fiber as a distributed integrating sensor to generate such a signal. Experiments have shown that 3.0 m of optical fiber exposed to concentrated sunlight equal to ~40 suns in intensity will generate 1 microA of signal current in a silicon photodiode. These data were measured in an experimental line-focus solar collector using solar flux conditions common to this type of collector.
Wiczer
J J
JJ