Contact Information: Press Contact: Michael Azzano Cosmo PR 415/596-1978
New NREL Three Year and DLR Test Data Establishes Performance Benchmarks for Aluminum Front-Sided Mirrors for Solar Applications
Independent Tests Show Alanod-Solar Metal Mirrors Have Longest Sustained Durability and Performance for Aluminum Mirrors and Are Well Suited for CSP Applications
| Source: Alanod-Solar
ENNEPETAL, GERMANY--(Marketwire - December 1, 2009) - Recently released measurement and
accelerated weather testing data from both the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) in the United States and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) show
that Alanod-Solar metal-based mirrors are well suited for concentrating
solar power applications because of their proven durability and sustained
level of specular reflection.
NREL subjected Alanod-Solar metal mirrors to accelerated weather testing
over a period of three years where they have maintained their initial
reflectance. Further, DLR testing showed that with a documented direct
reflectivity of between 0.868 and 0.883 (within an acceptance angle > 25
mrad), Alanod-Solar mirrors are well suited to concentrating solar power
(CSP) applications.
"Taken together, these tests set new benchmarks for levels of specular
solar reflection over time," said Andrew Sabel, North American market
manager for Alanod-Solar. "Our proprietary production process results in a
superior mirrored surface that can outlast foil products and other
alternatives while providing solar technologies with higher performing,
longer lasting and overall more efficient surface components."
Alanod-Solar is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing of advanced
flexible reflecting and absorbing solar surfaces on aluminum. The
performance of these surfaces leads to higher efficiency, better durability
and an overall lower cost of systems for solar technologies. Solar surfaces
are the first part of any solar system to make contact with the sun, and
must establish a high threshold of performance and durability for the
balance of the system.
NREL Test Results
Alanod-Solar metal-based mirror samples of MIRO-SUN® were tested outdoors
at three separate NREL facilities in Golden, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona;
and Miami, Florida over a period of three years. During that time, the
mirrors showed an average drop of between less than one and one percent in
specular reflectance measured within a 25-mrad cone angle.
These samples were also exposed to NREL accelerated weather tests using
both an Atlas Ci5000 Weather-Ometer and a BlueM damp heat oven.
The Weather-Ometer exposes samples to a continuous condition of Xenon-arc
light, 60 degrees Celsius, and 60 percent relative humidity. It
accelerates weathering by roughly six times, meaning that in this 15-month
test, Alanod-Solar metal mirrors were exposed to an equivalent of seven and
one half years of light. Over that time, the mirror performance declined
between less than one and 2.3 percent in specular reflectance.
The BlueM oven applies an even more intense testing protocol, exposing
samples to a continuous condition of 85 degrees Celsius and 85 percent
relative humidity without light. Over the accelerated test period, which
may simulate as much as 25 years of real world exposure, the samples
maintained a very high specular reflectance value.
Overall, the test results demonstrated an outstanding degree of consistency
and high-level performance during rigorous real world and accelerated
weathering tests. There are no known similar results for any other anodized
aluminum front surface mirrors, making Alanod-Solar metal mirrors the
definition of performance for this category.
DLR Test Results
DLR measured Alanod-Solar metal mirrors for spectral specular reflectance
using a Perkin-Elmer Lambda 950 spectrometer with a Universal Reflectance
Accessory (URA). Absolute measurements were taken in three positions,
rotated each time by 45 degrees. The average and standard deviations of the
three measurements was used for further evaluation. The results were
weighted with the solar spectrum of ASTM G173-03 at air mass AM 1.5 to
produce the solar weighted specular reflectance in the range from
250-2500nm.
According to the DLR report:
"The measured samples show solar weighted direct reflectance values of
0.868 - 0.883 as measured with the [URA within an acceptance angle > 25
mrad] in the spectrometer. The optical analysis of the beam spread
distributions shows furthermore that most of the reflected energy can be
captured within a radius determined by a standard deviation of 0.67 - 1.20
mrad, corresponding to a target radius of 2-4 mrad. This shows that the
analyzed materials can be used in [concentrating solar power]
applications."
"Metal based mirrors provide basic material advantages over traditional
glass or newer glass products," continued Mr. Sabel. "They are lighter
weight and more formable, and now they are proven to have a consistent
specular reflectance over time that makes them ideal for concentrating
solar power applications."
Complete testing results are available under the Resources heading at the Alanod-Solar website
(http://www.alanod-solar.us/press.php) or by contacting Alanod-Solar
directly. For more information on solar surface components or to learn
about Alanod-Solar's complete line of reflecting and absorbing surfaces for
solar applications, please visit http://www.alanod-solar.us or call
1-888-52-SOLAR.
About Alanod-Solar
Alanod-Solar is a division of Alanod Aluminum Veredlung, a thirty-year
leader in surface solutions based in Ennepetal, Germany. Alanod-Solar
leverages the world's most advanced development labs and production lines
to create superior reflective and absorptive surface solutions. The
company's long history of excellence and reliability set it apart in the
industry, with the performance of its products leading to higher
efficiency, better durability and an overall lower cost of systems for
solar technologies.