OEM Optical Convex Glass Lenses For Solar Energy Concentration Systems

OEM Optical Convex Glass Lenses For Solar Energy Concentration Systems

• Material:

  • High-Purity Optical Glass: Primarily Fused Silica (Quartz) or Low-Iron Borosilicate Glass (e.g., Borofloat 33, Tempax).

  • Selection Drivers: Extreme UV transmission, high laser damage threshold (LDT), exceptional thermal shock resistance, low thermal expansion coefficient, and minimal solarization (darkening under prolonged UV exposure). Fused silica excels for highest flux/high-UV applications. Low-iron glass offers cost efficiency for many concentrated solar power (CSP) and concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems.

• Key Properties:

  • Precise Convex Curvature: Spherical or sometimes aspheric surfaces tailored for specific focal lengths and concentration ratios.

  • High Surface Accuracy & Low Roughness: Minimizes scattering losses, maximizing concentrated flux density on the receiver (target). Surface figure often λ/2 or better.

  • Exceptional Thermal Stability: Withstands intense concentrated sunlight and rapid temperature cycling without cracking or distortion (critical CTE & thermal shock resistance).

  • High Solar Transmittance: Ultra-low iron content and specialized AR coatings maximize transmission across the solar spectrum (UV-VIS-NIR), crucial for efficiency.

  • High Laser Damage Threshold (LDT): Essential for systems using high-power solar simulators or lasers for alignment/testing.

  • Durability: Resistant to environmental factors (humidity, abrasion from sand/dust), often with hard, broadband AR coatings.

  • Precise Dimensions: Tight tolerances on diameter, thickness, center thickness (CT), radius of curvature (ROC), and centration for system integration.

• Core Function:

  • To focus and concentrate incident sunlight onto a small target area (receiver).

  • Significantly increases solar flux density (W/m²) and temperature at the focal point/receiver line.

  • Enables efficient conversion of solar energy into usable heat (CSP, solar furnaces) or electricity (CPV systems).

• Primary Applications:

  • Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV): Focusing sunlight onto high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells.

  • Concentrated Solar Power (CSP): Focusing sunlight onto heat transfer fluid (HTF) receivers in parabolic troughs, linear Fresnel reflectors, or central tower systems (often as secondary concentrators).

  • Solar Furnaces: Generating extremely high temperatures (>1000°C) for material processing, testing, and research.

  • Solar Simulators: Collimating or focusing artificial sunlight for testing solar cells and materials.

  • Heliostat Fields: Used in some secondary concentrator designs for central receiver towers.

  • Solar Thermal Collectors (High-Temp): Enhancing concentration in advanced collector designs.

  • Solar-Powered Stirling Engines: Concentrating sunlight onto the engine's hot end.

• Manufacturing Considerations (OEM Aspect):

  • Customization: Precisely tailored diameter, focal length, thickness, and ROC to meet specific system optical design and concentration ratio requirements.

  • Scalability: OEM production capability for consistent, high-volume supply needed in solar farms.

  • Advanced Coatings: Durable, broadband Anti-Reflective (AR) coatings optimized for the solar spectrum (typically 300nm - 2500nm) to maximize transmission and minimize reflection losses.

  • Robustness: Designed and manufactured for long-term outdoor durability under harsh environmental conditions (UV, thermal cycling, abrasion, humidity).

  • Metrology: Rigorous testing for transmission, wavefront error, focal length, and surface quality under solar conditions.

In essence: OEM optical convex glass lenses are critical, high-performance components in solar concentration technologies. Engineered from thermally stable, high-transmission glass like fused silica or low-iron borosilicate, they efficiently focus sunlight with precision. Their key role is dramatically increasing solar flux density and temperature at the receiver, enabling efficient thermal energy generation (CSP) or electricity production (CPV). Customized for specific system geometries and produced reliably at scale, these durable lenses, often featuring specialized AR coatings, are fundamental to maximizing the efficiency and output of advanced solar energy harvesting systems.