Run-time detection and correction of heliostat tracking errors

Matteo Chiesi, Eleonora Franchi Scarselli and Roberto Guerrieri

Renewable Energy, 2017, vol. 105, issue C, 702-711

Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of tracking errors in heliostats used in solar tower power plants and proposes an approach based on low-cost distributed electronics capable of limiting their impact. An analysis carried out through a parallel model sets the specifications for design of a closed-loop solar tracker based on a low-cost six-axis digital e-compass. A proof of concept system is devised to test the accuracy of the proposed strategy. This approach allows the solar tracker to perform a run-time detection and correction of heliostat tracking errors, with an accuracy of about 3mrad for the azimuth angle and less than 2mrad for the altitude angle, thus leading to a higher concentration ratio than with an open-loop solar-tracker.

Keywords: Solar tower power plants; Parallel computing; Closed-loop solar tracker; Distributed sensors; Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); e-compass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:105:y:2017:i:c:p:702-711

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2016.12.093

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