QUARZ® Center

To ensure the long-term economic viability of solar thermal power plants, constructors and operators of power plants use measurement and testing methods to assess the performance parameters and ageing resistance of components and systems. At the DLR QUARZ® Center, researchers are developing qualification methods for components and systems for solar thermal power plants and applying them in their own test benches.

The results of the measurements and tests are used to assess the interaction of components and systems during power plant operation.

The component test benches at the QUARZ® Center enable the testing of parabolic trough receivers and mirrors, flexible tube connections (REPA) and heliostat mirrors in particular. We measure heliostats and parabolic trough collectors in system test benches or directly in the system on site. The test facilities are located at the DLR site in Cologne and at the Plataforma Solar de Almería of the Spanish research centre CIEMAT.

We offer our measurements in accordance with published standards and norms to ensure the state of the art and comparability.

In addition, the QUARZ® Center supports the new and further development of components and systems from conceptual design to market readiness through testing, qualification and evaluation.

The methods are offered as measurement services to industrial customers and research and development partners. QUARZ® Center staff provide training in the operation and quality control of solar thermal power plants.

Contact

Dr.-Ing. Peter Heller

Head of Department Qualification
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Solar Research
Calle Doctor Carracido 42, E-04005 Almería
Spain

Quarz®-Zentrum / Quarz® Center

German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Solar Research
Qualification department
Linder Höhe, Building 3e, 51147 Köln
Germany