Transport of solar energy with optical fibres

Abstract In order to facilitate the use of concentrated solar energy its transport in optical fibres is studied. Transmission properties of fibres as well as geometrical conditions of the association between fibres and concentrator are investigated. It is shown that modules where one fibre is associated with a small parabolic mirror may supply 2 W with an efficiency greater than 70 per cent, whilst the concentration on the exit end of a 10-m long fibre may exceed 3000. Such a device has been achieved and the experimental results are in good agreement with the preliminary study. Some further developments and intersting applications are indicated.