The flux distribution delivered by a Fresnel lens when concentrating solar energy is characterized. The flux is measured with a Si photo-detector equipped with an integrating sphere. Flux mapping is performed by scanning lines at discrete positions on one plane. The peak concentration is determined as well as the distribution of the flux density in 3-D inside the focal area. Future utilization of this Fresnel lens for solar processing and surface modifications of materials is discussed. The analysis is made on the basis of the optical characteristics of the device and of the results of previous works in the same field. The size of the focus and the peak flux density are key parameters for examining the candidate processing and for discussing the dimensions of the treated components.

1.
Yu
,
Z. K.
,
Zong
,
Q. Y.
, and
Tam
,
Z. T.
,
1982
, “
A Preliminary Investigation of Surface Hardening of Steel and Iron by Solar Energy
,”
Journal of Heat Treating
,
2
(
4
), pp.
344
350
.
2.
Maı¨boroda
,
V. P.
,
Pasichniy
,
V. V.
,
Palaguta
,
N. G.
,
Stegnii
,
A. I.
, and
Krivenko
,
V. G.
,
1986
, “
Special Features of Local Heat Treatment of Steel 34KhN3MFA in the Focal Spot of a Solar Furnace
,”
Fiz. Met. Metalloved.
,
1
, pp.
59
60
.
3.
Stanley
,
J. T.
,
Fields
,
C. I.
, and
Pitts
,
J. R.
,
1990
, “
Surface Treating with Sunbeams
,”
Adv. Mat. Proc.
,
12
, pp.
16
21
.
4.
Rodriguez
,
G. P.
,
De Damborenea
,
J. J.
, and
Va´zquez
,
A. J.
,
1997
, “
Surface Hardening of Steel in a Solar Furnace
,”
Surf. Coat. Technol.
,
92
, pp.
165
170
.
5.
Ferriere
,
A.
,
Faillat
,
C.
,
Galasso
,
S.
,
Barallier
,
L.
, and
Masse
,
J. E.
,
1999
, “
Surface Hardening of Steel Using Highly Concentrated Solar Energy Process
,”
ASME J. Sol. Energy Eng.
,
21
, pp.
36
39
.
6.
Douale
,
P.
,
Serror
,
S.
,
Pradeilles Duval
,
R. M.
,
Serra
,
J. J.
, and
Felder
,
E.
,
1999
, “
Thermal Shocks on an Electrolytic Chromium Coating in a Solar Furnace
,”
J. Phys. IV
,
9
, pp.
429
434
.
7.
Korol
,
A. A.
,
Korol
,
E. A.
,
Kasich-Pilipenko
,
E. A.
,
Verkhovodov
,
I. E.
,
Dvernyakov
,
P. A.
, and
Kadyrov
,
V. Kh.
,
1983
, “
Use of Concentrated Solar Energy in the Application of Slurry Coatings
,”
Poroshk. Metall. (Kiev)
,
4
, pp.
39
42
.
8.
Yu
,
Z. K.
, and
Lu
,
J. T.
,
1987
, “
Microstructure and Properties of Nodular Cast Iron Surface Alloyed with Tungsten Carbide by Concentrated Solar Energy
,”
Surf. Eng.
,
3
(
1
), pp.
41
45
.
9.
Ivashchenko
,
L. A.
,
Rusakov
,
G. V.
,
Pasichnii
,
V. V.
,
Stegnii
,
A. I.
, and
Ponomarev
,
S. S.
,
1989
, “
Deposition of Hardening Coating on Hard-alloy Tools Using Solar Power Plant
,”
Poroshk. Metall. (Kiev)
,
1
(
313
), pp.
75
80
.
10.
Pitts, J. R., Stanley, J. T., and Fields, C. L., 1990, “Solar Induced Surface Transformation of Materials,” in Solar Thermal Technology-Research-Development and Applications, B. P. Gupta & W. H. Trangott, Eds., Hemisphere Publishing Corporation (New York, USA), pp. 459–470.
11.
Lackey, W. L., Freeman, G. B., Mackie, P. E., O’Neil, D. J. and Hawley, P. M., 1990, “Solar-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Production of Ceramic Whiskers,” in Solar Thermal Technology-Research-Development and Applications, B. P. Gupta & W. H. Trangott, Eds., Hemisphere Publishing Corporation (New York, USA), pp. 471–483.
12.
Rawers
,
C.
,
Alman
,
D. E.
,
Lewandowski
,
A.
,
Petty
,
A. V.
, and
Pitts
,
J.
,
1994
, “
Addition of a Nickel Aluminide Coating to Inconel 600 Using a Solar Furnace
,”
J. Mater. Sci. Lett.
,
13
, pp.
1608
1611
.
13.
Lewandowski
,
A.
,
1993
, “
Deposition of Diamond-like Carbon Films and Other Materials Processes Using a Solar Furnace
,”
Mat. Tech.
,
8
,
11/12
, pp.
237
240
.
14.
Fernandez
,
B. J.
,
Lopez
,
V.
,
Vazquez
,
A. J.
, and
Martinez
,
D.
,
1998
, “
Cladding of Ni Superalloy Powders on AISI 4140 Steel with Concentrated Solar Energy
,”
Sol. Energy Mater. and Sol. Cells
,
53
(
1–2
), pp.
153
161
.
15.
Yu
,
Z. K.
,
Zong
,
Q. Y.
, and
Tam
,
Z. T.
,
1983
, “
A Further Investigation of Surface Hardening of Iron and Steel by Solar Energy
,”
Journal of Heat Treating
,
3
(
2
), pp.
120
125
.
16.
Zong
,
Q. Y.
,
Tam
,
Z. T.
,
Cao
,
M. D.
, and
Yu
,
Z. K.
,
1986
, “
Localized Hardening of a Machine Gun Bolt by Means of High-intensity Solar Beam
,”
Heat Treat. Met.
,
6
, pp.
15
18
.
17.
Nixon, G., 1977, “Cast Acrylic Fresnel Lens Solar Concentrator,” in Proceedings of ERDA Conference on Concentrating Solar Collectors, Atlanta.
18.
James, L., and Williams, J., 1978, “Fresnel Optics for Solar Concentration on Photovoltaic Cells,” in Proceedings of 13th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, IEEE New York.
19.
Lorenzo
,
E.
, and
Luque
,
A.
,
1981
, “
Fresnel Lens Analysis for Solar Energy Applications
,”
Appl. Opt.
,
20
(
17
), pp.
2941
2945
.
20.
Lorenzo
,
E.
, and
Luque
,
A.
,
1982
, “
Comparison of Fresnel Lenses and Parabolic Mirrors as Solar Energy Concentrators
,”
Appl. Opt.
,
21
(
10
), pp.
1851
1853
.
21.
Rodriguez
,
G. P.
,
Vazquez
,
A. J.
, and
De Damborenea
,
J. J.
,
1994
, “
Steel Heat Treatment with Fresnel Lenses
,”
Mater. Sci. Forum
,
163–164
, pp.
133
138
.
22.
Garcı´a
,
I.
,
Sanchez Olı´as
,
J.
,
De Damborenea
,
J. J.
, and
Vazquez
,
A. J.
,
1998
, “
Sintesis de nitruro de titanio mediante la´ser y energia solar concentrada
,”
Rev. Metal. Madrid
,
34
(
2
), pp.
109
113
.
23.
Garcı´a
,
I.
,
Sa´nchez Olı´as
,
J.
, and
Va´zquez
,
A. J.
,
1999
, “
A New Method for Materials Synthesis: Solar Energy Concentrated by Fresnel Lens
,”
J. Phys. IV
,
9
, pp.
435
440
.
24.
Rodriguez
,
G. P.
,
Garcı´a
,
I.
, and
Va´zquez
,
A. J.
,
1999
, “
Coating Processing by Self Propagating High Temperature Synthesis (SHS) Using a Fresnel Lens
,”
J. Phys. IV
,
9
, pp.
411
416
.
25.
Ferriere
,
A.
, and
Rivoire
,
B.
,
2002
, “
An Instrument for Measuring Concentrated Solar Radiation: A Photo-sensor Interfaced with an Integrating Sphere
,”
Sol. Energy
,
72
(
3
), pp.
187
193
.
26.
Ferriere, A., and Rivoire, B., 2000, “Measurement of Concentrated Solar Radiation: The Asterix Calorimeter,” in Proceedings of the 10th SolarPACES Int. Symposium on Solar Thermal Concentrating Technologies, Sydney, 8–10 March 2000, H. Kreetz, Ed. (ANU, Australia), pp. 233–240.
27.
Ferriere, A., Robert, J-F., Kaluza, J., and Neumann, A., 2000, “Concentrated Solar Flux Measurements: Results of the Second SolarPACES Fluxmeter Intercomparison Campaign,” in Proceedings of the 10th SolarPACES Int. Symposium on Solar Thermal Concentrating Technologies, Sydney, 8–10 March 2000, H. Kreetz, Ed. (ANU, Australia), pp. 247–254.
28.
Ferriere
,
A.
,
Lestrade
,
L.
,
Lebrun
,
M.
, and
Rivoire
,
B.
,
1994
, “
Characteristics and Performance of a High Flux Solar Furnace: Application to Surface Thermal Treatment
,”
J. High Temp. Chem. Processes
,
3
, pp.
31
38
.
29.
Lorenzo
,
E.
,
1981
, “
Chromatic Aberration Effect on Solar Energy Systems Using Fresnel Lenses
,”
Appl. Opt.
,
20
(
21
), pp.
3729
3732
.
30.
Gineste
,
J-M.
,
Flamant
,
G.
, and
Olalde
,
G.
,
1999
, “
Incident Solar Radiation Data at Odeillo Solar Furnaces
,”
J. Phys. IV
,
9
, pp.
623
628
.
31.
Font Tullot, I., 1984, in Atlas de la radiacio´n solar en Espan˜a, Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia, Madrid.
You do not currently have access to this content.