Cooper, ThomasLenarduzzi Perez, Gianpaolo2023-12-082023-12-082023-12-08https://hdl.handle.net/10315/41722Stationary concentrators have the capabilities to supply power in residential and commercial applications, where typical required temperatures range between 20° and 400°. To advance the performance and possible applications of these devices, this work presents an innovative asymmetric stationary concentrator, called Seasonally Adaptive ACPC, which maximizes concentration by semi-annual solar pseudo-tracking. The concentrator is described, and its performance is analyzed using theoretical, numerical, and experimental methods. The former includes the adaptation of the source-acceptance map matching method for ACPCs and the theoretical performance of possible designs; and numerical studies used Monte Carlo ray tracing to investigate optical performance parameters. Experimental efforts involved measuring the optical performance of a practically relevant prototype (ϑin,1=0°, ϑin,2=90°, and a Cg=2×) in Toronto, Canada, using an innovative flux mapping procedure. Through this work, the Seasonally Adaptive ACPC was found to be a low-cost alternative to meet low to medium temperature heating demands at high latitudes.Author owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.Mechanical engineeringAlternative energyOpticsElectronic Thesis or Dissertation2023-12-08Solar thermalConcentrated solarAsymmetric compound parabolic concentratorStationary concentratorSeasonal changeSeasonal adaptiveFlux mappingSolar desalinationSolar evaporationSource - acceptance map matchingRestricted exit anglesFlux distribution