Heliostat control

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:864934

Kaehler, James A ^[1]

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1. Littleton, CO

An improvement in a system and method of controlling heliostat in which the heliostat is operable in azimuth and elevation by respective stepper motors and including the respective steps or means for calculating the position for the heliostat to be at a commanded position, determining the number of steps in azimuth and elevation for each respective motor to get to the commanded position and energizing both the azimuth and elevation stepper motors to run in parallel until predetermined number of steps away from the closest commanded position in azimuth and elevation so that the closest position has been achieved, and thereafter energizing only the remaining motor to bring it to its commanded position. In this way, the heliostat can be started from a stowed position in the morning and operated by a computer means to its commanded position and kept correctly oriented throughout the day using only the time of the day without requiring the usual sensors and feedback apparatus. A computer, or microprocessor, can then control a plurality of many heliostats easily and efficiently throughout the day.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: MDH 83-2729E
• Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company, Inc. (Dallas, TX)
• Patent Number(s): US 4440150
• OSTI ID: 864934
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

heliostat
control
improvement
method
controlling
operable
azimuth
elevation
respective
stepper
motors
including
steps
means
calculating
position
commanded
determining
motor
energizing
run
parallel
predetermined
closest
achieved
thereafter
remaining
bring
started
stowed
morning
operated
computer
kept
correctly
oriented
throughout
time
requiring
sensors
feedback
apparatus
microprocessor
plurality
heliostats
easily
efficiently
computer means
stepper motors
stepper motor
oriented throughout
respective steps
stowed position
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