An optical profilometer for the characterisation of parabolic trough solar concentrators

Abstract An optical profilometer has been developed based on the idea that the large panels that compose solar-power concentrators and a tolerance threshold for slope-errors to some milliradians, can allow the use of a geometric-optics framework and the investigation of ray-paths by means of a laser beam. The instrument scheme is discussed in detail together with the related problems and the solutions adopted. Data analysis also makes use of an innovative method, based on the iterative application of a criterion about the intersection between the tangents of adjacent points, which allows a realistic profile of the reflector-surface to be drawn. The methodology adopted allows us to call our instrument a profilometer rather than an instrument that gives only information about the tangent of the profile. The instrument accuracy on profile and arctangent deviations from the ideal parabola is 20 μm and 15 μrad, respectively. The results obtained for a reflecting panel are also reported.