Simultaneous alignment of heliostat mirrors, using retro-reflectors

Bernhard W. Adams

doi:10.1117/12.2676549

4 October 2023 Simultaneous alignment of heliostat mirrors, using retro-reflectors

Bernhard W. Adams

Proceedings Volume 12671, Advances in Solar Energy: Heliostat Systems Design, Implementation, and Operation; 126710A (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2676549
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2023, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A method is proposed to keep all heliostats in a Concentrated-Solar-Power (CSP) facility under closed-loop pointing control while also providing feedback on the detailed alignment of the segment mirrors of each heliostat. The method uses the sunlight reflected by the heliostats towards the receiver, and thus works under full operational conditions and without the need of secondary optical alignments. It is based on retro-reflectors (‘retros’) to simultaneously return samples of the sunlight reflected by each mirror back to that same mirror. It goes beyond previous efforts at using retros by placing them into the concentrated sunlight, instead of in its periphery. Quartz glass will be used for its heat tolerance, and reflectivity modulation for visibility is achieved by rotating the retros. The technology can be retrofitted into existing CSP facilities to improve operational efficiency, and it can be used to relax the stability requirements of heliostats, and thus their cost, in the planning of new ones.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Bernhard W. Adams "Simultaneous alignment of heliostat mirrors, using retro-reflectors", Proc. SPIE 12671, Advances in Solar Energy: Heliostat Systems Design, Implementation, and Operation, 126710A (4 October 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2676549

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