Optical test of solar components using solar divergence collimators

The optical characterization of solar components represents a crucial aspect of the research on renewable energies. It allows evaluating the optical features of every single component, taking as reference the optical project. Laboratory tests can comparatively characterize the elements of a serial production, thus giving information about production homogeneity. They can examine solar concentrators of various shapes, dimensions and collection features. The main tests assess collection efficiency, image plane analysis and angle dependence. The core of the laboratory set-up for the tests is a solar divergence collimator, reproducing the sunlight divergence and therefore simulating the operative conditions.