Heliostat control

Patent · 01 January 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
• Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company, Inc. (Dallas, TX)
• Patent Number(s): US 4440150
• OSTI ID: 864934
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/126/250/353/700/
achieved
apparatus
azimuth
bring
calculating
closest
commanded
computer
computer means
control
controlling
correctly
determining
easily
efficiently
elevation
energizing
feedback
heliostat
heliostats
improvement
including
kept
means
method
microprocessor
morning
motor
motors
operable
operated
oriented
oriented throughout
parallel
plurality
position
predetermined
remaining
requiring
respective
respective steps
run
sensors
started
stepper
stepper motor
stepper motors
steps
stowed
stowed position
thereafter
throughout
time