Overview
IEC TS 62862-3-3:2020 is an IEC Technical Specification for solar receivers used in concentrated solar thermal power (CST) plants with linear-focus solar collectors. It specifies technical requirements, test methods, durability criteria and performance parameters for receivers that consist of an absorber tube enclosed by an insulating glass envelope. The document defines geometry and material characteristics, optical and thermal performance metrics, and standardized laboratory tests for optical characterization, heat-loss measurement, and long-term durability. Note: the thermal loss laboratory tests in this TS are for component characterization and do not represent in-field thermal losses when installed in commercial solar fields.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Definitions and characterization: standardized terminology, symbols, geometry and material descriptors for absorber tubes and glass envelopes.
- Heat-loss tests: prescribed setups and two principal methods (resistance heating and Joule effect), thermocouple placement, test stability criteria, thermal emittance measurement (optional) and heat-loss curve models to report results.
- Optical characterization: non‑destructive optical tests, optical efficiency transient methods and solar-simulator based efficiency testing (optional) to quantify receiver optical performance.
- Durability and mechanical tests: antireflective coating durability, abrasion, impact resistance (ice-ball and steel-ball methods), external/internal thermal shock, thermal stability of selective absorber coatings (full tubes and coated samples), thermal cycling and bellows fatigue tests.
- Test reporting and calibration: standardized test-report forms, instrumentation calibration and measurement stability/acceptance criteria.
- Annexes: example test report form and application notes (e.g., temperature measurement offset corrections).
Applications and who uses it
This Technical Specification is intended for:
- Receiver manufacturers - for product development, quality control and factory testing.
- Independent test laboratories and certification bodies - to perform repeatable optical, thermal and durability testing.
- CST plant developers and EPCs - to specify component acceptance criteria and compare supplier offerings.
- R&D teams and materials engineers - to evaluate absorber coating performance and lifetime ageing.
- Procurement and QA managers - to define technical requirements in contracts and supplier audits.
Practical uses include verifying heat-loss coefficients, confirming optical efficiency, validating coating stability under thermal cycling, and documenting conformance for procurement or certification.
Related standards
- IEC TS 62862-3-3 is part of the broader IEC 62862 series addressing systems and components for solar thermal electric plants. Users should consult other parts of the series and referenced normative documents for complete system-level requirements and complementary test methods.
Keywords: IEC TS 62862-3-3:2020, solar receivers, solar thermal electric plants, linear-focus solar collectors, absorber tube, glass envelope, heat loss test, optical characterization, durability tests, concentrated solar thermal power.