Devices, methods, and systems for control of heliostats

摘要

Adherence to flux or resultant measurable parameter limits, ranges, or patterns can be achieved by directing heliostat mounted mirrors to focus on aiming points designated on the surface of a solar receiver. Different heliostats can be directed to different aiming points, and a heliostat can be directed to different aiming points at different times. The cumulative flux distribution resulting from directing a plurality of heliostats to any aiming point on a receiver surface can be predicted by using statistical methods to calculate the expected beam projection for each individual heliostat or alternatively for a group of heliostats. Control of the heliostats in a solar power system can include designating aiming points on a receiver from time to time and assigning heliostats to aiming points from time to time in accordance with an optimization goal.

主权项

1. A method for controlling heliostats, comprising:
accessing projection data representing reflection characteristics of each of a plurality of heliostats, each being aimable at a receiver; for each of the plurality of heliostats, predicting a flux intensity projection pattern for each of multiple aiming points on the receiver responsively to the projection data respective to the each of the plurality of heliostats; for each of a subset of the plurality of heliostats, selecting one of the multiple aiming points corresponding to the each of the subset responsively to previously selected aiming points corresponding to others of the plurality of heliostats, the selecting including applying at least one rule, the at least one rule having the effect that when the selecting is repeated for all of the subset, a cumulative distribution of flux over the receiver surface is substantially uniform or substantially matches a predetermined pattern of flux; and generating a control command responsively to the selecting to cause at least some of the plurality of heliostats to target the selected ones of the multiple aiming points.