A small-scale Linear Fresnel Collector (LFC) for the generation of process heat has been tested by Fraunhofer ISE; its performance was evaluated by means of two different methods. The first is a quasi-dynamic testing method performed according to the testing standard ISO 9806:2013, with modifications in the model to accurately describe LFCs. Due to the two-dimensional Incidence Angle Modifier (IAM) of an LFC, an iterative multi-linear regression (MLR) approach has been developed to be able to comprehensively evaluate the optical performance. The second method is a dynamic testing method based on a parameter identification incorporating a multi-node/plug-flow collector model without strict restraints on mass flow and inlet temperature stability. Both methods are briefly described in their conceptual design and their basic requirements, revealing their similarities and differences. Each method is then applied to real measurement data from an LFC, assessing practicability and identification accuracy. For both methods, the mean absolute difference between identified IAM values and results from ray tracing fell in a range of 0.013-0.017, leading to a similar accuracy in LFC performance evaluation. Differences in optical efficiency between the two methods are smaller, with an average absolute difference below 0.0098, even when using different measurement data and simulation models. Thus the dynamic method represents a good starting point for the further development of an alternative dynamic testing and evaluation method with more flexibility than the current testing standard. This will be significant when evaluating large-scale concentrating collectors and collectors with direct steam generation.

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Phase-measuring deflectometry is a full-field gradient technique that lends itself very well to testing reflective optical surfaces. In the past, the industry's interest has been focussed mainly on the detection of defects and ripples, since it is easy to achieve sensitivity in the nm range. On the other hand, attempts to reconstruct the absolute surface shape from the gradient map have been plagued by systematic errors that accumulate to unacceptable uncertainties during data integration. Recently, thanks to improved measurement and evaluation techniques, the state of the art in absolute surface measurement has reached a level of maturity that allows its practical usage in precision optical manufacturing and qualification systems. We demonstrate the techniques, and the progress, by way of results from mirrors for telescopes, solar concentrators, and precision laboratory assemblies

Mirrors are the first link in the energy-conversion chain from Sun to electricity-delivery in the grid. Shape and solar reflectance are the key-parameters of mirrors, respectively affecting how solar radiation is concentrated around the focus, and how much of the impinging solar power is reflected. In SolarPACES Task III, an expert group is drafting the solar reflectance guidelines; in order to speed up the discussion the SRRR round robin was launched at the beginning of 2013. Identical kits, each one consisting of ten specimens collected from eight cooperating producers, were distributed and measured at six research institutes, acting as evaluators. The kit includes both traditional (glass based) and innovative (first-surface) solar mirrors. The paper only reports on the simplest task among those of SRRR: the solar hemispherical reflectance measurement. Near-specular solar reflectance was also measured and compared but the results are still under investigation and are not part of this paper. The measurements were accomplished according to the guidelines. The differences among the achieved results are within the typical accuracy of spectrophotometers, demonstrating the reliability of the reflectance guidelines. The statistic of the deviations from the true value is analysed separately for each evaluator, and allows us to infer information abut the gauging-status of the adopted reference mirror, as well as the measurement reproducibility.