Shading efficiency calculation for Linear Fresnel reflector

This paper presents a novel method to calculate mirror element spacing arrangement in a Linear Fresnel reflector (LFR). Methodology section gives the mathematical foundations of the method, which will be used, afterwards, to calculate shading efficiency of the LFR for hours, days and for a whole year. Calculations were done for different design profile angles and different locations. Results showed that low design profile angles gave the highest shading efficiencies; 0.906 for a design profile angle of 10° at Casablanca, Morocco. In addition, fluctuation in shading efficiency during a year were smaller for low design profile angles than for higher ones. In the case where the calculations were done for several locations, locations with low latitudes gave the highest shading efficiencies; 0,911 for the equator. As for the design profile angle, low latitudes enabled less fluctuation in shading efficiency during a year, shading efficiency was constant for the equator during the whole year.