Solar extinction system
Solar extinction measurement system based on digital cameras
A novel measurement method based on digital images and Lambertian target Atmospheric extinction of solar radiation reflected by heliostats to receiver is recognized as an important cause of energy loss in the increasingly large solar tower plants. During the design of these plants, it would be desirable extinction maps similar to the solar resource ones. Unfortunately, the truth is that there is currently no reliable measurement method for solar extinction and, at present, these plants are designed, built and operated without knowing this local parameter. The aim of this measurement system developed by the Almeria Solar Platform (PSA), is to take simultaneous images of the same target at very different distances using two identical optical systems with digital cameras, suitable lenses and filters.
Having Lambertian targets is important for this measurement system since the position of the cameras and the angles relative to the target can never be known for sure at such large distances.
