The University of Minnesota's new 45 kWe high-flux solar simulator consists of an array of seven identical radiation units of common focus, each comprised of a 6.5 kWe xenon arc lamp close-coupled to a precision reflector in the shape of a truncated ellipsoid. The simulator delivers radiative power of approximately 10.5 kW over a 6-cm diameter circular disc located in the focal plane, corresponding to an average flux of 3.7 MW/m2, and with a peak flux of 8.5 MW/m2. This intense source of thermal radiation is ideally suited for evaluating high-temperature solar reactor and receiver prototypes in the relevant environment, and for testing novel materials under extreme conditions.
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