PETAL (Parabolic Energy Transformation and Astrophysics Laboratory) is a large multipurpose dish-shaped concentrator, located at Sede Boqer. Its 2-axis tracking paraboloidal surface, with aperture area in excess of is constructed from 216 adjustable mirror panels. The very large aperture and high concentration ratio of PETAL render the direct characterization of its optical performance a nontrivial task. We have applied a variety of methods in order to assess PETAL’s optical quality. These include imaging the full moon and Jupiter at night, and analysis of the 3-D caustic image produced by the scattering of focused sunlight off particles in the air. The main results of these studies, together with the preliminary results of measurements on 36 individual panels, are presented here. Among the three measurements that look at objects of the same angular size (i.e. the sun and moon), the average image size (i.e. radius of circle containing 90% of the intensity) is demonstrating a 5% spread about the mean for three different methods. This result is in agreement with 0.22 m for the Jupiter image. Successful application of these methods for characterization of PETAL proves their applicability to more commonly used solar dishes of smaller sizes but with similar or better concentration ratios.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
August 2004
Technical Papers
Determining the Optical Properties of PETAL, the Parabolic Dish at Sede Boqer
S. Biryukov
S. Biryukov
Department of Solar Energy & Environmental Physics, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990 Israel
Search for other works by this author on:
S. Biryukov
Department of Solar Energy & Environmental Physics, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, 84990 Israel
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS for publication in the ASME JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING. Manuscript received by the ASME Solar Division September 2003; final revision March 2004. Associate Editor: A. Kribus.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Aug 2004, 126(3): 827-832 (6 pages)
Published Online: July 19, 2004
Article history
Received:
September 1, 2003
Revised:
March 1, 2004
Online:
July 19, 2004
Citation
Biryukov, S. (July 19, 2004). "Determining the Optical Properties of PETAL, the Parabolic Dish at Sede Boqer ." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. August 2004; 126(3): 827–832. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1756925
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Solar Simulator Prototype With Halogen and LED Sources
J. Sol. Energy Eng
Numerical Study on Uniform Passive Cooling Configurations for Photovoltaic Modules in Hot Climatic Conditions
J. Sol. Energy Eng (August 2025)
Dual Actuator Control Strategy for Temperature Stability in High-Temperature Solar Receivers
J. Sol. Energy Eng (August 2025)
Related Articles
A New Troughlike Nonimaging Solar Concentrator
J. Sol. Energy Eng (February,2002)
Low-Cost Inflatable Heliostat for Solar Thermal Powerplants
J. Sol. Energy Eng (August,2002)
Theoretical Analysis and Photothermal Experimental Study of a Segmented Specular Reflection Solar Concentrator
J. Sol. Energy Eng (June,2024)
Three-Dimensional Analysis of a Concentrated Solar Flux
J. Sol. Energy Eng (February,2008)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Future Solar Energy Applications
Solar Energy Applications
Genetic Approach for Predicting the Missing Value of the Pixel
International Conference on Mechanical and Electrical Technology, 3rd, (ICMET-China 2011), Volumes 1–3
Photovoltaics
Integration of Renewable Energy Systems