Optical performance of conical windows for concentrated solar radiation

Radiative energy transfer through a truncated cone window with a back-plane reflector is considered. This geometry is proposed for a high-pressure direct-radiation (volumetric) central solar receiver for use in combined-cycle electricity generation. The transmission and loss characteristics, computed by ray-tracing, are parameterized by the angle of incident radiation relative to the cone axis. The overall performance of the window is an integral of the angle-dependent transmission data, weighted by the actual distribution of input radiation, over all incidence angles. This parameterization provides insight and assists in tailoring of the window geometry to different solar collection methods. Results are presented for several window geometries. Overall window performance is presented for a dish-type distribution of input radiation.