About this facility

The PSA facility for the optical characterization and durability analysis of solar materials, which is the result of a joint collaborative project between CIEMAT and DLR, has the necessary equipment to completely characterize the materials used in components if solar concentrating solar thermal systems (reflectors, receivers, transparent covers, receiver particles, etc.). This facility allows the evaluation of characteristic optical parameters of solar components and their possible deterioration. It is designed to predict the liftetime of the materials by performing both accelerated ageing and real outdoor tests. To do this, the environmental variables producing deterioration of solar materials when they are exposed to outdoor conditions are applied in a controlled manner, both separately and in combination, by using weathering chambers. Along with these labs, there are a series of outdoor test benches for exposing materials to outdoor weather conditions and comparing their degradation with those found in the accelerated ageing tests, to study the effectiveness of special coatings, to optimize the cleaning strategy and to analyse the soiling rate. In addition, two heliostat test benches have been developed by the groupwere recently installed, one to test the influence of blocking on the coatings lifetime and another one to accelerate the reflectors degradation due to UV radiation under outdoor weather conditions. Finally, the laboratory is equipped with accessories necessary for their proper use, such as precision scales, thermo-magnetic stirrer, drier, ultrasonic bath for sample cleaning, tools for reflector samples preparation (cutting and polishing), safety cabinets, instrumentation for measuring pH, conductivity, oxygen, etc.

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