Solar Energy Management Using a V-Groove: An Approach Based on a Multiple Optical Path Algorithm

Angular and spectral separations of thermal radiation have become a key challenge in solar concentration or thermal management of sources radiating at extremely high or low temperatures. Reflections obtained from electromagnetic theory in an open cavity geometry increase the emission and absorption compared to a flat surface due to the cavity effect. In this paper, in order to obtain the directional emission of geometric surfaces (V-Grooves) using ray tracing and studying the propagation of light, a new algorithm is developed. The numerical simulations take into account the materials properties of both facets of the V-shape, thus simulating an original asymmetric and a multilayer V-shape and providing a very interesting directive thermal emission behavior. We evaluated the emission behavior from the reflection and emission coefficients of different rays at different angles for different parameters (materials properties, wavelength, and geometry). The simulations of a V-groove showed that due to the different reflections occurring inside an aluminum V-cavity with an aperture angle of 28 degrees, the emissivity was well enhanced by 86% in the normal direction compared to a flat surface made of the same material. Moreover, using the original asymmetric opposite-sided materials (Al and Si) in a V-groove, it was possible to separate and control the emission by focusing the radiation or directing different spectral bands in different directions.