Solar heliostat enclosure, enclosure foundation and installation method and machine therefor

Patent · Tue Aug 18 00:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5778345

Horton, R H; Zdeb, J J

A heliostat enclosure is described that is particularly well suited for enclosing and protecting a heliostat, either flat or parabolic. The enclosure preferably comprises a light-weight, generally hemispherically shaped, enclosure bubble that is formed of readily assemblable and disassemblable segments, including some transparent segments, and supported by a foundation in the form of a soil filled, plastic ring bag that is mounted in the ground at the heliostat site. The enclosure bubble is inflatable by pressurized air and supportable in operation, such as during windy or inclement weather. A multi-legged, tubular, step frame is mounted within the enclosure bubble and is configured to support the enclosure bubble in nearly fully inflated condition when the bubble is not supported by pressurized air. The frame is electrical conducting and grounded, thereby also serving as a lightning protection means for the heliostat. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of interconnected enclosures are formed by a factory-made preshaped continuous plastic cover sheet that facilitates the automatic and continuous installation of a row of enclosures at the site by a machine. In this embodiment, an air lock may be formed at each enclosure at the ends of the row.

• Assignee: General Electric Co
• Patent Number(s): US 4283887
• OSTI ID: 5778345
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 21 Oct 1977
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
HELIOSTATS
COVERINGS
DESIGN
CONTROL SYSTEMS
FOUNDATIONS
INSTALLATION
MYLAR
PLASTICS
EQUIPMENT
ESTERS
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLYESTERS
POLYMERS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SUPPORTS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
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