Method of aligning and locating the mirrors of a collector field with respect to a receptor tower

Patent · Tue Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:6749492

Smith, O J

A method of surveying a solar field which has a large number of heliostats using a laser beam which originates directly below the heat receptor on the tower and can be controlled to aim towards any one of the mirrors in the field is described. The reflected light from this mirror is analyzed, with an array of photocells which are mounted on the doors which close across the window of the heat receptor, to control both the azimuth and elevation of both the mirror and the laser gun in order to cause the beam to be aimed at the center of the mirror and the laser image centered on the receptor. This permits surveying the field for the purpose of using computer control of the mirror during normal daytime operation. Moreover, not only is the array of photocells on the window used for surveying the field during night time operation, but they are also used to determine the coordinate transformation between the geometry of the field and the geometry of the earth by tracking the sun during daytime operation. Lastly the system with a microprocessor on each heliostat is used for tracking the sun in an open control mode for all normal hours of operation of the power plant.

• Assignee: IFI; ERA-06-007506; EDB-81-016178
• Patent Number(s): US 4219729
• OSTI ID: 6749492
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 16 Jun 1978
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
HELIOSTATS
ALIGNMENT
SOLAR TRACKING
TOWER FOCUS COLLECTORS
BEAMS
COMPUTERS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
LASERS
MIRRORS
ORIENTATION
SOLAR REFLECTORS
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
EQUIPMENT
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
141000* - Solar Collectors & Concentrators
140702 - Solar Thermal Power Systems- Central Receiver