Optical alignment of parabolic trough modules

Based on the recently patented Visual Inspection Method (VIM), a new instrument, named Visual Inspection System Field (VISfield) has been developed and successfully tested on the PCS, the experimental parabolic-trough of ENEA Casaccia. The VISfield inspects one module (12 m length) at time, providing in less than two minutes: i) intercept factor (IF) map; ii) average IF, global and individualized for any facet mirrors; iii) adjustment at the fixing-points of any facet mirrors to improve its IF. Finally, after the alignment optimization, the refreshed IF map represents an useful tool to check the shape compliance of each facet mirrors. For that, VISfield completely satisfies item 2)

A Supporting Decision Tool for the Integrated Planning of a Logistic Network

Non

Synthesis and annealing effects on microstructure and optical properties of wide-bandgap polycrystalline ferro-pseudobrookite FeTi2O5 sol-gel layers

Wide bandgap (WBG) and high thermal stability pseudobrookite compounds, Fe1+xTi2−xO5 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), are promising materials for photocatalysis, high-temperature thermoelectric applications, green production of hydrogen by water splitting, fabrication of power electronics, and optoelectronic devices. Here, we report on WBG, polycrystalline, ferropseudobrookite, FeTi2O5, coatings, stable at high temperature, prepared by an optimized sol-gel route on fused silica and silicon substrates. The chemical composition, the amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation, and the influence of the annealing temperature and atmosphere (air and argon) on the formation and evolution of the crystalline phases were investigated in detail by combining thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry analysis with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The experimental results clearly show that orthorhombic FeTi2O5 single phase develops in the interval 500–560 °C (crystalline domain size about 16 nm at 560 °C). The coatings remain in a single FeTi2O5 phase up to a temperature of about 590 °C. At higher temperatures, a rutile-TiO2 secondary phase is formed, both in an oxidizing and inert atmosphere, while the ferropseudobrookite phase remains unchanged. The results suggest that the secondary phase arises from the presence of superficial Ti-O- dangling bonds that at temperatures above 590 °C begin to arrange themselves to form polycrystalline rutile-TiO2 (crystalline domain size ≈8 nm at 620 °C). The results also show that the average energy required to break the Ti-O-Ti molecular bonds of the FeTi2O5 phase increases with temperature, improving its thermal stability. Optical absorption spectroscopy measurements carried out on coatings heated at 560 °C, yield an optical bandgap of about 2.25 eV, a refractive index of about 1.84 at 550 nm, and a weak UVC positive band, peaked at about 5.9 eV, on transmittance that disappears when the samples are annealed at 750 °C

Round Robin Test of Absorptance and Emittance of Particles for CSP

Precise knowledge of particle optical properties is crucial to the advancement and success of directly-irradiated particle receiver technologies. This work presents the results of a Round Robin Test (RRT) that was conducted between seven laboratories, where each participant measured the absorptance and emittance for a set of five different particle types. This research was performed within the framework of the SolarPACES Task III group, and the results helped establish a guideline for evaluating the optical properties of particles. The guideline was published on the SolarPACES Task III website in May 2022

3D-shape Measurement of Parabolic-Trough Panels: Outlook of SFERA-III Round Robin Results

The 3D-shape round-robin initiative aims to compare the main geometric parameters of 3D shape measurements for parabolic-trough mirror panels, assessed using equipment developed and employed by each participating institution: ENEA, F-ISE, DLR, NREL, and Sandia. Except ENEA equipment, all the other are based on deflectometry, also call fringe-reflection method. The round-robin is based on circulating 6 trough mirror panels (3 inner and 3 outer) of RP3 dimensions, with a focal length of 1710 mm, between participating laboratories; a simple and rugged supporting fixture together with precise instruction on how to use it have been provided to make the comparison more reliable. ENEA wrote a custom evaluation software for comparing the results. We observe a reasonable agreement among the mean values of the deviations of height and slopes from the ideal parabola; the agreement is improved when a software realignment procedure for setting the height values on the support points to the expected ideal values is applied. The absolute difference between pairs of evaluators is sometimes greater than the declared experimental uncertainty; investigation into these deviations is still ongoing

CMS physics technical design report : Addendum on high density QCD with heavy ions

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