Line focus solar thermal central receiver research study. Final report, April 30, 1977-March 30, 1979

Technical Report · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5535434· OSTI ID:5535434

Di Canio, D G; Treytl, W J; Jur, F A; Watson, C D

The results of a study to examine the line focus central receiver alternative for solar thermal generation of electric power on a commercial scale are presented. The baseline concept consists of the following elements: (1) a solar collector (heliostat) whose geometry is the equivalent of a focused parabolic cylinder. The heliostat reflecting surface is composed of an array of flexible rectangular mirror panels supported along their long edges by a framework which rotates about an axis parallel to the ground plane. The mirror panels in one section (18.3 meters by 3.05 meters (60 feet by 10 feet)) are defocused in unison by a simple mechanism under computer control to achieve the required curvature. Two sections (110 meters/sup 2/(591 feet/sup 2/)) are controlled and driven in elevation by one control/drive unit. (2) A linear cavity receiver, composed of 61-meter (200-foot) sections supported by towers at an elevation of 61 meters (200 feet). Each section receives feedwater and produces turbine-rated steam. The cavity is an open cylinder 1.83 meters (6 feet) in inside diameter, with a 1.22 meter (4 foot) aperture oriented at 45 degrees to the collector field. (3) Heliostat control, consisting of a local controller at each heliostat module which communicates with a master control computer to perform elevation tracking and focal length adjustment. The control logic is open-loop, with sun position computer by the master computer with an algorithm. Image sensors, mounted above and below the receiver aperture, are used to monitor the collector field and provide feedback to the master computer for detection of misaligned heliostats. (WHK)

• Research Organization: FMC Corp., Santa Clara, CA (USA). Engineered Systems Div.
• OSTI ID: 5535434
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/20426-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140702* -- Solar Thermal Power Systems-- Central Receiver
BOILERS
CAVITY RECEIVERS
CENTRAL RECEIVERS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
CONFIGURATION
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COST
DESIGN
ECONOMICS
EQUIPMENT
FOCUSING
HELIOSTATS
MACHINERY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MIRRORS
PARABOLIC REFLECTORS
PERFORMANCE
POWER PLANTS
POWER RANGE 10-100 MW
SIZE
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR RECEIVERS
SOLAR REFLECTORS
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
SOLAR TRACKING
STEAM GENERATORS
STEAM TURBINES
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
TOWER FOCUS POWER PLANTS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
VAPOR GENERATORS