A review of available methods for surface shape measurement of solar concentrator in solar thermal power applications

The surface shape and optical quality of the solar concentrators have a great influence on the solar power plant efficiency, and there need an accurate, inexpensive and fast tool to do this measurement work at the plant start up and during operation. The development of the measurement methods of the solar concentrators over the past several decades was reviewed, and three types of the measurement methods: video scanning Hartmann optical test (VSHOT), photogrammetry and deflectometry were introduced in detail. A comparison of the different methods was made, and an outlook is also put forth.