An Alternative Energy Technology to Nigeria’s Energy Problem

1. FRESNEL LENS: AN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
TECHNOLOGY TO NIGERIA’S ENERGY PROBLEM
*ABDUKKARIM HAMZA EL-LADAN1,2,
&
SALEEM HUSSAIN ZAIDI2
1Physics Department/Center for Renewable Energy Research (CeRER)
Umaru Musa Yar`adua University Katsina, Nigeria
2Solar Energy Research Institute (Seri)
Universiti Kebangsaan (National University) Malaysia
Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo 2014

2. Outline
(a)Motivation
(b)Background
(c) Methodology
(d)Experimental Results
(e)Summary and Future Work

3. Motivation

4. Availability of huge renewable energy resources in
Nigeria/land mass
Existing model of centralized electricity distribution is
wasteful and expensive
Large-scale carbon-based energy generation is
environmentally unsustainable

5. Nigerian Population/Economic inequality is energy related
(energy availability/consumption is linked to economic
prosperity)
Micro-grid systems are sustainable (can survive man made
and natural disasters
These are clear and compelling evidences that necessitate
for the urgent need of transition from carbon-based fuels to
renewable resources by developing small scale (CSP) system.

6. Electricity usage by sector in Nigeria 2009
Industry
23% Transport
0%
Residential
37%
Agriculture /
Forestry
Commercial
and Public
Services
36%
0%
Fishing
0%
Chart Title
Other
4%

7. Background

8. CSP Systems: Thermal and electrical energy
generation from Sun
Sunlight Heat
Heat Mechanical
Mechanical Electricity

9. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
Heat-to-electricity generation system

10. Characteristics of Existing (CSP) Technology
Systems
CSP
Reflectiv
e
Refractive
Parabolic TroughTower Linear Fresnel ReflectoPrarabolic Dish
Fresnel lens
Occupy vast land
~600m, Expensive
mirrors, Temp
~400⁰C
Large heliostat
~100-600, occupy
Vast land ~150
hectares,
temp~570⁰C At
3400psi
Pressure and 25% eff
Temp ~1000⁰C,
Conc ratio ~1000x,
It has the highest
Eff of 30% among CSP
systems
Almost same
properties with
parabolic trough

11. Fresnel Lens
Fresnel lens is a flat optical component mostly made from (PMMA) Poly (Methyl
Methacrylate) with its surface made up of many small concentric grooves with each
groove behaving like an individual prism, it`s material properties include; low weight,
mechanical strength, temperature resistance, n = 1.4914 and inexpensive
manufacturing. It will play great role in photo thermal and photovoltaic direct energy
generation with very little or no CO2 emissions.
Fresnel Schematic Fresnel Picture

12. Methodology

13. Pictures for Concentrators under investigation
with Data Collection System
Pictures of the reflectors
Data Acquisition System Combine Reflective and Refractive
Concentrator line up for Data
Collection
Fresnel Lens set up for
Solar Cooker

14. Conical Frustum Parabolic Trough Hexagonal Frustum

15. Experimental setup
Both reflective and refractive concentrators were lined up for an outdoor experiment, all
connected to a data acquisition system to measure their respective stagnation
temperature at no load, ambient temperature and solar irradiation.
1= Conical Frustum
2 = Hexagonal
Frustum
3 = Parabolic Trough
4 = 100cm Lens
5 = 50cm Lens
6 = Linear Lens
7 = 25cm Lens
8 = Pyranometer
9 = Thermocouple
10 = Data Acquisition
11 = Computer
System
1 2
9
8
10
11
4 5
7
6
3

16. Experimental Result

17. Stagnation Temperature Bar Graphs for Concentrators Under
Investigation in Malaysia at 945W/M2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Optical Elements
Temperature °C
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Conical Frustum
Hexagonal Frustum
Parabolic Trough
100cm Fresnel Lens
50cm Fresnel Lens
Linear Fresnel Lens
25cm Fresnel Lens
Optical Elements Stagnation
Temperature ⁰C
at 945 W/m2
1: Conical Frustum 228.8
2: Hexagonal
Frustum
163.5
3: Parabolic Trough 85.3
4: 100cm Spherical
Lens
1300.2
5: 50cm Spherical
Lens
725.5

18. Thermal Efficiency Bar Graphs for Concentrators Under
Investigation
Thermal efficiency of a collector is a better
indicator of its thermal performance.
Optical Elements Average Thermal
Efficiency
1: Conical Frustum 0.823
2: Hexagonal Frustum 0.711
3: Parabolic Trough 0.559
4: 100cm Spherical Lens 0.958
5: 50CM Spherical Lens 0.923
6: Linear Lens 0.871
Conical Frustum
Hexagonal Frustum
Parabolic Trough
100cm Fresnel Lens
50cm Fresnel Lens
Linear Fresnel Lens
25cm Fresnel Lens
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Thermal Efficiency
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
7: 25cm Spherical Lens 0.711 Optical Elements

19. Figure of Merit Contour Graph for Concentrators Under
Investigation
F.M characterize the performance of devices to
determine their relative utility for an application
Concentrator Average figure of
Merit
1: Conical Frustum 0.197
2: Hexagonal Frustum 0.110
3: Parabolic Trough 0.066
4: 100cm Spherical
Lens
1.153
5: 50cm Spherical
Lens
0.644
6: Linear Lens 0.365
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Optical Elements
Figure of Merit
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
Conical Frustum
Hexagonal Frustum
Parabolic Trough
100cm Fresnel Lens
50cm Fresnel Lens
Linear Fresnel Lens
25cm Fresnel Lens

20. 3D graph showing Irradiation distribution below 50cm Fresnel Lens
in Malaysia
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
400
200
0
600
-15
-20
-5
-10
0
5
15
10
20
20cm from lens
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
Z Data
X Data
Y Data
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1200
1150
1100
1050
1000
950
900
850
-15
-20
-5
-10
0
5
15
10
20
10cm from lens
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
Z Data
X Data
Y Data
850
900
950
1000
1050
1100
1150
1200

21. 2200
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
800
600
400
200
0
1000
-15
-20
-5
-10
0
5
15
10
20
30cm from lens
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
Z Data
X Data
Y Data
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500
2000
1500
500
0
1000
-15
-20
-5
-10
0
5
15
10
20
40cm from lens
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
Z Data
X Data
Y Data
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500

22. Thus these properties and performance in previous experiments makes Fresnel
lens a prospective candidate for future photo thermal and photovoltaic direct
energy generation with very little or no CO2 emissions, this concept was
adapted by NASA in which they use 20x concentrator lens on their CPV
crystalline silicon panels to produce electricity for deployment in spacecrafts.
However in 2014 ford has unveil it`s new c-max car which has rooftop
concentrating solar lenses expected to raise the harvest over five-fold.
Schematic diagram of charging solar panels attached
to the new C-max car under the Fresnel lens canopy
Pictorial display of C-max Fresnel lens solar
powered car

23. Measured stagnation temperature of 50cm Fresnel Lens in
Malaysia and Nigeria
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (min)
Stagnation Temperature (°C)
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Irradiance(W/m2)
Ambient Temperature (°C)
Stagnation Temperature(°C)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time (min)
Stagnation Temperature (°C)
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Irradiance W/m2
Ambient Temperature °C
Stagnation Temperature °C

24. Summary

25. Summary
• Reflective systems ~200-300 °C.
• Fresnel-lens refractive systems ~ 250 -1300 °C .
• Concentration ratios and temperature has a direct bearing on system
efficiency,
• Spherical lenses temperature increase followed logarithmic dependence
on diameter.
• Sunlight to thermal energy conversion for refractive are significantly
superior to reflective systems.
• Fresnel lenses were determined to be the most desirable candidates for
future thermal and electricity generation in tropics most especially Nigeria.

26. Future work (thermal and P.V energy
harvesting with Fresnel Lens)

27. REFERENCES
[1] IEA 2013 Key world energy statistics
[2] Abdulkarim H E 2014 Comparative assessment of reflective and refractive optical concentration
system in tropical climate unpublished thesis (University Kebangsaan Malaysia.
[3] Juliana S, Constantin N 2012 Thermal analysis of a linear fresnel lens solar collector with black
body cavity receiver (U.P.B. Sci. Bull) Series D vol 74: p 4 ISSN 1454-2358
[4] http://www.thevoltreport.com/solar-powered-car-concept-c-max-made-by-ford-anticipated/
[5] Abdulkarim H E 2014 Performance Analysis of Fresnel Lens in Tropical Climatic Regimes: A case
study of Malaysia and Nigeria p 5

28. Thank You and God Bless