The concentrator of the DLR High-flux Solar Furnace in Cologne
During the irradiation of experiments, sunlight is captured by a heliostat, reflected and focussed into the experiment room via the mirror surfaces of the concentrator.
Concentrated solar radiation for application areas ranging from materials tests to solar hydrogen production
The High-flux Solar Furnace and Solar Simulator of the DLR in Cologne offer many opportunities for the technical use of concentrated solar radiation to researchers and users from science and industry.
The fields of application include:
High-temperature melting.
Load testing of solar cells for satellite power supply.
Component testing for space applications, even under vacuum conditions.
Material testing, high heating and cooling rates and high temperatures in an oxidizing atmosphere, no restrictions by heating elements or furnace walls.
Substitution of fossil fuels.
Chemical storage of solar energy (solar fuels).
Identification of new solar-specific reaction pathways in the production of chemicals and in the treatment and detoxification of waste materials.
Solar hydrogen production.
Production of synthetic fuels.
Thermochemical conversion of solid and/or renewable raw materials using solar energy.
Solar photochemical syntheses of fine chemicals.
Calibration of highly concentrated optical radiation.
Raytracing simulations.
In the laboratory building of the solar furnace there is a test room to carry out experiments, a measuring room to control and monitor the experiments and a workshop for preparatory and supporting work on the experimental setups. Furthermore, there are also chemical and material laboratories.
The xenon lamps of the DLR High-Flux Solar Simulator in Cologne
In the experiment shown, the CentRec® centrifugal receiver is heated with concentrated solar radiation.
For experiments requiring long-term stable radiation conditions, it is possible to use a high-flux solar simulator, which produces artificial solar irradiation based on elliptical reflectors with xenon short-arc lamps. The reflectors transmit their radiation with an optical power of 25 kW as concentrated energy with a power density of more than 4 MW/m2 to a target area at a distance of 3 meters, where it can be used for a wide variety of applications. It is possible to carry out multi-day endurance tests under very stable radiation conditions as well as component tests at certification level.
In addition to the solar furnace and the high flux solar simulator, there are other light sources available in a spectral range from UV to IR, which can be integrated into various experimental setups, including the vacuum chambers.
The experimental setups are always developed according to the specific requirements of the customer.
Contact
Dr.-Ing. Gerd Dibowski
Head of large-scale research facility Solar Furnace
