System and method for aligning heliostats of a solar power tower

Convery, Mark R.

Advanced Search OptionsAdvanced Search queries use a traditional Term Search. For more info, see our FAQ.

All Fields:

Patent Title:

Abstract:

Assignee:

Inventor(s):

Patent Number:

Patent Classification (CPC):

All Classifications
A - human necessities
A01 - agriculture
A21 - baking
A22 - butchering
A23 - foods or foodstuffs
A24 - tobacco
A41 - wearing apparel
A42 - headwear
A43 - footwear
A44 - haberdashery
A45 - hand or travelling articles
A46 - brushware
A47 - furniture
A61 - medical or veterinary science
A62 - life-saving
A63 - sports
A99 - subject matter not otherwise provided for in this section
B - performing operations
B01 - physical or chemical processes or apparatus in general
B02 - crushing, pulverising, or disintegrating
B03 - separation of solid materials using liquids or using pneumatic tables or jigs
B04 - centrifugal apparatus or machines for carrying-out physical or chemical processes
B05 - spraying or atomising in general
B06 - generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general
B07 - separating solids from solids
B08 - cleaning
B09 - disposal of solid waste
B21 - mechanical metal-working without essentially removing material
B22 - casting
B23 - machine tools
B24 - grinding
B25 - hand tools
B26 - hand cutting tools
B27 - working or preserving wood or similar material
B28 - working cement, clay, or stone
B29 - working of plastics
B30 - presses
B31 - making articles of paper, cardboard or material worked in a manner analogous to paper
B32 - layered products
B33 - additive manufacturing technology
B41 - printing
B42 - bookbinding
B43 - writing or drawing implements
B44 - decorative arts
B60 - vehicles in general
B61 - railways
B62 - land vehicles for travelling otherwise than on rails
B63 - ships or other waterborne vessels
B64 - aircraft
B65 - conveying
B66 - hoisting
B67 - opening, closing {or cleaning} bottles, jars or similar containers
B68 - saddlery
B81 - microstructural technology
B82 - nanotechnology
B99 - subject matter not otherwise provided for in this section
C - chemistry
C01 - inorganic chemistry
C02 - treatment of water, waste water, sewage, or sludge
C03 - glass
C04 - cements
C05 - fertilisers
C06 - explosives
C07 - organic chemistry
C08 - organic macromolecular compounds
C09 - dyes
C10 - petroleum, gas or coke industries
C11 - animal or vegetable oils, fats, fatty substances or waxes
C12 - biochemistry
C13 - sugar industry
C14 - skins
C21 - metallurgy of iron
C22 - metallurgy
C23 - coating metallic material
C25 - electrolytic or electrophoretic processes
C30 - crystal growth
C40 - combinatorial technology
C99 - subject matter not otherwise provided for in this section
D - textiles
D01 - natural or man-made threads or fibres
D02 - yarns
D03 - weaving
D04 - braiding
D05 - sewing
D06 - treatment of textiles or the like
D07 - ropes
D10 - indexing scheme associated with sublasses of section d, relating to textiles
D21 - paper-making
D99 - subject matter not otherwise provided for in this section
E - fixed constructions
E01 - construction of roads, railways, or bridges
E02 - hydraulic engineering
E03 - water supply
E04 - building
E05 - locks
E06 - doors, windows, shutters, or roller blinds in general
E21 - earth drilling
E99 - subject matter not otherwise provided for in this section
F - mechanical engineering
F01 - machines or engines in general
F02 - combustion engines
F03 - machines or engines for liquids
F04 - positive - displacement machines for liquids
F05 - indexing schemes relating to engines or pumps in various subclasses of classes f01-f04
F15 - fluid-pressure actuators
F16 - engineering elements and units
F17 - storing or distributing gases or liquids
F21 - lighting
F22 - steam generation
F23 - combustion apparatus
F24 - heating
F25 - refrigeration or cooling
F26 - drying
F27 - furnaces
F28 - heat exchange in general
F41 - weapons
F42 - ammunition
F99 - subject matter not otherwise provided for in this section
G - physics
G01 - measuring
G02 - optics
G03 - photography
G04 - horology
G05 - controlling
G06 - computing
G07 - checking-devices
G08 - signalling
G09 - education
G10 - musical instruments
G11 - information storage
G12 - instrument details
G16 - information and communication technology [ict] specially adapted for specific application fields
G21 - nuclear physics
G99 - subject matter not otherwise provided for in this section
H - electricity
H01 - basic electric elements
H02 - generation
H03 - basic electronic circuitry
H04 - electric communication technique
H05 - electric techniques not otherwise provided for
H99 - subject matter not otherwise provided for in this section
Y - new / cross sectional technologies
Y02 - technologies or applications for mitigation or adaptation against climate change
Y04 - information or communication technologies having an impact on other technology areas
Y10 - technical subjects covered by former uspc

More Options ...

Title: System and method for aligning heliostats of a solar power tower

Abstract

Disclosed is a solar power tower heliostat alignment system and method that includes a solar power tower with a focal area, a plurality of heliostats that each reflect sunlight towards the focal area of the solar power tower, an off-focal area location substantially close to the focal area of the solar power tower, a communication link between the off-focal area location and a misaligned heliostat, and a processor that interprets the communication between the off-focal area location and the misaligned heliostat to identify the misaligned heliostat from the plurality of heliostats and that determines a correction for the identified misaligned heliostat to realign the misaligned heliostat to reflect sunlight towards the focal area of the solar power tower.

Inventors:: Convery, Mark R.

Issue Date:: Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2013

Research Org.:: US Dept. of Energy (USDOE), Washington, DC (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1176491

Patent Number(s):: 8344305

Application Number:: 12/727,124

Assignee:: Convery, Mark R., San Mateo, CA (United States)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Show more

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS
F24S23/77 - with flat reflective plates
F24S50/20 - for tracking
F24S50/80 - for controlling collection or absorption of solar radiation

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
Y02E10/47 - Mountings or tracking

Show less

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 2010 Mar 18

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 14 SOLAR ENERGY

Citation Formats


                    Convery, Mark R. System and method for aligning heliostats of a solar power tower.  United States: N. p., 2013. 
        Web.

Copy to clipboard


                    Convery, Mark R. System and method for aligning heliostats of a solar power tower.  United States.

Copy to clipboard


                    Convery, Mark R. Tue .  
        "System and method for aligning heliostats of a solar power tower".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1176491.

Copy to clipboard


                    
@article{osti_1176491,

  title        = {System and method for aligning heliostats of a solar power tower},

  author       = {Convery, Mark R.},

  abstractNote = {Disclosed is a solar power tower heliostat alignment system and method that includes a solar power tower with a focal area, a plurality of heliostats that each reflect sunlight towards the focal area of the solar power tower, an off-focal area location substantially close to the focal area of the solar power tower, a communication link between the off-focal area location and a misaligned heliostat, and a processor that interprets the communication between the off-focal area location and the misaligned heliostat to identify the misaligned heliostat from the plurality of heliostats and that determines a correction for the identified misaligned heliostat to realign the misaligned heliostat to reflect sunlight towards the focal area of the solar power tower.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2013},

  month        = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2013}

}

Copy to clipboard

Patent:

Save / Share:

Export Metadata

Save to My Library

Works referenced in this record:

Heliostat control employing direct current motor
patent, August 1985

Erickson, Mark R.; Kaehler, James A.
US Patent Document 4,536,847
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4536847

Central receiver solar collector using analog coupling mirror control
patent, October 1979

Sommer, Warren T.
US Patent Document 4,172,443
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4172443

Heliostat guidance
patent, July 1980

Vaerewyck, Eugene G.; Miller, Robert C.; Anderson, Arthur E.
US Patent Document 4,211,922
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4211922

Heliostat control
patent, April 1984

Kaehler, James A.
US Patent Document 4,440,150
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4440150

Prismatic solar reflector apparatus and method of solar tracking
patent, May 1979

Gupta, Youdhishthir P.; O'Neill, Mark J.
US Patent Document 4,154,219
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4154219

Heliostat with integrated image-based tracking controller
patent-application, October 2008

Hickerson, Kevin; Reznik, Dan
US Patent Application 12/058110; 20080236568
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20080236568

Solar system employing ground level heliostats and solar collectors
patent, July 1981

Blake, Floyd A.; Northrup, Jr., Lynn L.
US Patent Document 4,276,872
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4276872

Method of aligning and locating the mirrors of a collector field with respect to a receptor tower
patent, August 1980

Smith, Otto J. M.
US Patent Document 4,219,729
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4219729

Solar Energy Collection Systems
patent-application, June 2008

Ford, Graham Paul
US Patent Application 11/630191; 20080128017
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20080128017

Autonomous heliostat
patent-application, November 2004

Nakamura, Katsushige
US Patent Application 10/753335; 20040231660
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20040231660

Solar receiver heliostat reflector having a linear drive and position information system
patent, March 1980

Horton, Richard H.
US Patent Document 4,192,583
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4192583

Automatic heliostat track alignment method
patent, January 1986

Stone, Kenneth W.
US Patent Document 4,564,275
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4564275

Calibration and tracking control of heliostats in a central tower receiver solar power plant
patent-application, April 2009

Reznik, Dan S.; Azarchs, Adam D.; Csaszar, Ambrus
US Patent Application 40580028; 20090107485
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20090107485

Control of a heliostat field in a solar energy plant
patent, January 1999

Yogev, Amnon; Krupkin, Vladimir
US Patent Document 5,862,799
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/5862799

Solar concentrator with camera alignment and tracking
patent, February 2012

Gross, William; Lee, Philip H. J.; Hickerson, Kevin
US Patent Document 8,122,878
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/8122878

Feedback control method for a heliostat
patent, April 2007

Litwin, Robert Z.; Meister, Christopher D.
US Patent Document 7,207,327
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/7207327

Measuring device for measuring concentrated radiation of light
patent, January 1999

Neumann, Andreas
US Patent Document 5,861,947
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/5861947

Central Receiver Solar Power Systems: Architecture And Controls Methods
patent-application, July 2009

Boggavarapu, Deepak
US Patent Application 12/271824; 20090178668
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20090178668

Method for controlling the alignment of a heliostat with respect to a receiver, heliostat device and solar power plant
patent-application, October 2009

Pfahl, Andreas; Buck, Reiner; Rehschuh, Karsten
US Patent Application 12/384670; 20090249787
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20090249787

Heliostat device
patent-application, March 2006

Zhang, Yaoming
US Patent Application 10/929993; 20060042624
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20060042624

Control system for heliostats and method
patent, May 1985

Gerwin, Harry L.
US Patent Document 4,519,382
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/4519382

Systems and methods for control of a solar power tower using infrared thermography
patent-application, January 2010

Gilon, Yoel; Chernin, Ophir; Goldwine, Gideon
US Patent Application 12/500101; 20100006087
URL: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20100006087

Similar Records in DOE Patents and OSTI.GOV collections:

Rim-drive cable-aligned heliostat collector system

Patent Dolan, James E [Denver, CO]; Sands, Timothy D [Berkeley, CA]

Disclosed is a heliostat collector apparatus comprising at least one heliostat suspended from a plurality of longitudinally extending linkage means. An enclosure structure is disposed adjacent the heliostat and provides a means for allowing the heliostat to be substantially protected from weathering. A first drive means is operatively connected to the heliostat to effect steering thereof in at least one of first and second predetermined directions. Finally, a frame member is adapted for supporting the heliostat at an inner portion thereof. The frame includes a plurality of outer expandable portions. Each one of the expandable portions is adapted to slidablymore » « less
Full Text Available
Solar receiver heliostat reflector having a linear drive and position information system

Patent Horton, Richard H [Schenectady, NY]

A heliostat for a solar receiver system comprises an improved drive and control system for the heliostat reflector assembly. The heliostat reflector assembly is controllably driven in a predetermined way by a light-weight drive system so as to be angularly adjustable in both elevation and azimuth to track the sun and efficiently continuously reflect the sun's rays to a focal zone, i.e., heat receiver, which forms part of a solar energy utilization system, such as a solar energy fueled electrical power generation system. The improved drive system includes linear stepping motors which comprise low weight, low cost, electronic pulse drivenmore » « less
Full Text Available
Methods and systems for concentrated solar power

Patent Ma, Zhiwen

Embodiments described herein relate to a method of producing energy from concentrated solar flux. The method includes dropping granular solid particles through a solar flux receiver configured to transfer energy from concentrated solar flux incident on the solar flux receiver to the granular solid particles as heat. The method also includes fluidizing the granular solid particles from the solar flux receiver to produce a gas-solid fluid. The gas-solid fluid is passed through a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the solid particles in the gas-solid fluid to a working fluid. The granular solid particles are extracted from the gas-solid fluidmore » « less
Full Text Available
Chemical looping fluidized-bed concentrating solar power system and method

Patent Ma, Zhiwen

A concentrated solar power (CSP) plant comprises a receiver configured to contain a chemical substance for a chemical reaction and an array of heliostats. Each heliostat is configured to direct sunlight toward the receiver. The receiver is configured to transfer thermal energy from the sunlight to the chemical substance in a reduction reaction. The CSP plant further comprises a first storage container configured to store solid state particles produced by the reduction reaction and a heat exchanger configured to combine the solid state particles and gas through an oxidation reaction. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat produced inmore » « less
Full Text Available
Compositions, devices, systems and methods for concentrating solar power

Patent Bronson, Arturo; Kumar, Vinod; Shantha-Kumar, Sanjay; ...

Compositions, devices, systems, and methods directed to concentrating solar power are disclosed. In certain aspects, the disclosure is directed to a heat storage material comprising a transformative alloy composition (internal core component) Al—B—Si—Fe/Al2O3—B2O3—SiO2—Fe3O4 embedded in a SiC outer coating.
Full Text Available

Similar Records

Title: System and method for aligning heliostats of a solar power tower

Abstract

Citation Formats

Heliostat control employing direct current motor patent, August 1985

Central receiver solar collector using analog coupling mirror control patent, October 1979

Heliostat guidance patent, July 1980

Heliostat control patent, April 1984

Prismatic solar reflector apparatus and method of solar tracking patent, May 1979

Heliostat with integrated image-based tracking controller patent-application, October 2008

Solar system employing ground level heliostats and solar collectors patent, July 1981

Method of aligning and locating the mirrors of a collector field with respect to a receptor tower patent, August 1980

Solar Energy Collection Systems patent-application, June 2008

Autonomous heliostat patent-application, November 2004

Solar receiver heliostat reflector having a linear drive and position information system patent, March 1980

Automatic heliostat track alignment method patent, January 1986

Calibration and tracking control of heliostats in a central tower receiver solar power plant patent-application, April 2009

Control of a heliostat field in a solar energy plant patent, January 1999

Solar concentrator with camera alignment and tracking patent, February 2012

Feedback control method for a heliostat patent, April 2007

Measuring device for measuring concentrated radiation of light patent, January 1999

Central Receiver Solar Power Systems: Architecture And Controls Methods patent-application, July 2009

Method for controlling the alignment of a heliostat with respect to a receiver, heliostat device and solar power plant patent-application, October 2009

Heliostat device patent-application, March 2006

Control system for heliostats and method patent, May 1985

Systems and methods for control of a solar power tower using infrared thermography patent-application, January 2010

Heliostat control employing direct current motor
patent, August 1985

Central receiver solar collector using analog coupling mirror control
patent, October 1979

Heliostat guidance
patent, July 1980

Heliostat control
patent, April 1984

Prismatic solar reflector apparatus and method of solar tracking
patent, May 1979

Heliostat with integrated image-based tracking controller
patent-application, October 2008

Solar system employing ground level heliostats and solar collectors
patent, July 1981

Method of aligning and locating the mirrors of a collector field with respect to a receptor tower
patent, August 1980

Solar Energy Collection Systems
patent-application, June 2008

Autonomous heliostat
patent-application, November 2004

Solar receiver heliostat reflector having a linear drive and position information system
patent, March 1980

Automatic heliostat track alignment method
patent, January 1986

Calibration and tracking control of heliostats in a central tower receiver solar power plant
patent-application, April 2009

Control of a heliostat field in a solar energy plant
patent, January 1999

Solar concentrator with camera alignment and tracking
patent, February 2012

Feedback control method for a heliostat
patent, April 2007

Measuring device for measuring concentrated radiation of light
patent, January 1999

Central Receiver Solar Power Systems: Architecture And Controls Methods
patent-application, July 2009

Method for controlling the alignment of a heliostat with respect to a receiver, heliostat device and solar power plant
patent-application, October 2009

Heliostat device
patent-application, March 2006

Control system for heliostats and method
patent, May 1985

Systems and methods for control of a solar power tower using infrared thermography
patent-application, January 2010