Automatic cleaning device, heliostat and its housing, heliostat field, power generation system

Abstract

The application discloses an automatic cleaning device, a heliostat and a mirror frame thereof, a heliostat field and a power generation system. The cleaning device comprises a track assembly and a cleaning assembly. The track assembly comprises a guide rail and a gravity-driven body movably arranged. The guide rail is provided with a first position and a second position at both ends and can generate an inclination angle change. The cleaning assembly is connected with the gravity-driven body. The heliostat mirror frame comprises a mirror surface, a mirror frame supporting the mirror surface and the automatic cleaning device. The track assembly is installed on the mirror frame. The guide rail extends along the long side of the mirror surface. The cleaning assembly extends along the short side of the mirror surface. The guide rail can generate an inclination angle change along with the tracking movement of the mirror frame. The gravity-driven body is switched and moved between the first position and the second position by relying on gravity, thereby driving the cleaning assembly to move along the mirror surface to perform automatic cleaning. The automatic cleaning device does not need external energy and manual operation, has low operation and maintenance cost, can automatically clean along with the light tracking action, has strong timeliness, and does not interfere with the normal light tracking operation of the heliostat.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of solar thermal power generation technology, and in particular to an automatic cleaning device, a heliostat and its frame, a heliostat field, and a power generation system. Background Technology

[0002] Tower-type concentrated solar power (CSP) systems rely on numerous heliostats to reflect and focus sunlight onto a central receiver tower for photothermal conversion. The cleanliness of the heliostat surfaces directly affects the reflection efficiency and the overall power generation revenue of the system. Tower-type CSP plants are mostly built in areas with high winds and sandstorms, such as plateaus and deserts, where dust accumulates rapidly on the mirrors, causing a continuous decline in reflectivity. Currently, the mainstream method for cleaning heliostats mainly involves using specialized cleaning vehicles equipped with high-pressure spray devices or rotating brushes for manual or semi-automatic periodic cleaning. This method relies on external energy and manual operation, resulting in high maintenance costs, limited cleaning frequency, and an inability to quickly respond to dust accumulation issues. Furthermore, the cleaning operation requires adjusting the heliostat's operating posture, which can easily conflict with normal solar thermal data collection scheduling, making it difficult to ensure long-term stable cleanliness of the mirror surfaces. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The embodiments of the present invention provide an automatic cleaning device, a heliostat and its frame, a heliostat field, and a power generation system, which aim to solve the problems of existing heliostat cleaning methods that rely on external energy and manual operation, resulting in high operation and maintenance costs, low cleaning frequency, poor cleaning timeliness, and interference with normal light-tracking operation.

[0004] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an automatic cleaning device, comprising: At least one track assembly, the track assembly including a guide rail and a gravity drive body, the guide rail having a first position and a second position at both ends, and the gravity drive body being movably disposed in the guide rail; A cleaning assembly is connected to the gravity drive body; The guide rail is configured to change its tilt angle, and the gravity drive moves along the guide rail under the action of gravity, switching between the first position and the second position, thereby driving the cleaning component to perform cleaning.

[0005] Furthermore, the track assembly is provided in two parts, and the two guide rails are arranged in parallel and spaced apart.

[0006] Furthermore, the cleaning assembly includes a connector and a flexible brush. The two ends of the connector are respectively connected to two gravity-driven bodies on the two guide rails, and the flexible brush is disposed on the connector.

[0007] Furthermore, the connector includes two side portions and a middle bridging portion. The middle bridging portion spans across the top of the two guide rails in a direction perpendicular to the guide rails. The two side portions bend from the two gravity drive bodies and bypass the two guide rails to connect to the two ends of the middle bridging portion.

[0008] Furthermore, the bottom of the guide rail has an opening to avoid the edge portion, the opening extends along the length of the guide rail, and the edge portion passes through the opening to connect with the bottom of the gravity drive body.

[0009] Furthermore, the flexible brush is disposed in the intermediate crossover portion, the flexible brush is arranged along the extension direction of the intermediate crossover portion, and the length direction of the bristles of the flexible brush is perpendicular to the extension direction of the intermediate crossover portion.

[0010] Furthermore, both of the track assemblies also include edge supports, each of the edge supports including a transverse extension and an upright portion, each of the transverse extensions including a fixed connection end connected to an external support structure, both of the transverse extensions extending in a direction away from the external support structure and connected to the bottom of the upright portion, and both of the upright portions extending upward in the height direction to support the two guide rails.

[0011] Furthermore, the two upright parts are of equal height so that the two guide rails are set at the same height. The connecting member is a horizontal bar that extends in a straight line along a direction perpendicular to the guide rails, and the two ends of the horizontal bar are directly connected to two gravity drive bodies respectively.

[0012] Furthermore, the flexible brush is disposed on the crossbar, the flexible brush is arranged along the extension direction of the crossbar, and the length direction of the bristles of the flexible brush is perpendicular to the extension direction of the crossbar.

[0013] Furthermore, several dust outlet holes are respectively opened at the bottom of both ends of the guide rail.

[0014] Furthermore, the guide rail is a hollow track, and the gravity drive body is disposed in the hollow track and can move along the hollow track.

[0015] Furthermore, the gravity-driven body is a counterweight rolling body that rolls along the guide rail; or, the gravity-driven body is a counterweight sliding body that slides along the guide rail.

[0016] Furthermore, the heights of both the first and second positions are lower than the height of the middle position of the guide rail.

[0017] Furthermore, the guide rail includes a first low rail section, an intermediate high rail section, and a second low rail section. The first low rail section and the second low rail section are respectively connected to both ends of the intermediate high rail section. The first low rail section and the second low rail section are respectively inclined downward relative to the intermediate high rail section in the height direction, so that the height of the first low rail section and the second low rail section is lower than the height of the intermediate high rail section. The first position is formed in the first low rail section, and the second position is formed in the second low rail section.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a heliostat frame, including a mirror, a frame for supporting the mirror, and an automatic cleaning device according to the first aspect. A track assembly is mounted on the frame, the guide rail of the track assembly extends along the long side of the mirror, and the cleaning assembly extends along the short side of the mirror. The guide rail is configured to follow the movement of the mirror frame and change its tilt angle. The gravity drive moves along the guide rail under the action of gravity, switching between the first position and the second position, thereby driving the cleaning assembly to move along the mirror surface of the heliostat for cleaning.

[0019] Furthermore, the guide rail is located on the side of the mirror frame facing away from the mirror surface; or, the guide rail is located on both sides of the mirror surface.

[0020] Furthermore, the length of the guide rail is greater than the length of the mirror surface, and both ends of the guide rail extend beyond the edge of the mirror surface along the length direction of the mirror surface, so as to form the first position and the second position respectively outside the two ends in the length direction of the mirror surface.

[0021] Thirdly, the present invention also provides a heliostat, including a support, a tracking mechanism, and a heliostat frame in the second aspect. The support is connected to the frame via the tracking mechanism, and the tracking mechanism is used to drive the frame to perform tracking motion.

[0022] Fourthly, the present invention also provides a heliostat field, comprising a plurality of heliostats as described in the third aspect.

[0023] Fifthly, the present invention also provides a tower-type solar thermal power generation system, including a central heat-absorbing tower and a heliostat field as described in the fourth aspect, wherein multiple heliostats are distributed around the central heat-absorbing tower.

[0024] This invention provides an automatic cleaning device, a heliostat and its frame, a heliostat field, and a power generation system. The automatic cleaning device comprises a track assembly and a cleaning assembly. The track assembly consists of a guide rail and a gravity-driven body movably disposed within the guide rail. The guide rail has a first position and a second position at its two ends. The cleaning assembly is connected to the gravity-driven body. The automatic cleaning device is then installed on the heliostat frame, with the guide rail extending along the long side of the mirror surface and the cleaning assembly extending along the short side of the mirror surface. The guide rail synchronously changes its tilt angle following the tracking movement of the frame. The gravity-driven body can switch between the first and second positions along the guide rail under the influence of gravity. This movement, in turn, causes the cleaning components to move along the mirror surface for cleaning. The guide rails, following the mirror frame's movement, naturally change their tilt angle, allowing the gravity-driven unit to autonomously move and clean the components. This eliminates the need for external energy sources like motors and electrical controls, as well as manual operation, reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, automatic cleaning can be achieved simply by tracking the heliostat's daily light, eliminating the need for manual start-up and shutdown, thus increasing cleaning frequency and timeliness. The cleaning action can be synchronized with the light-tracking operation, requiring no adjustments or avoidance of normal operation. Ultimately, this achieves energy-free, manual, automatic, and timely cleaning without affecting the heliostat's normal operation, effectively reducing maintenance costs and ensuring mirror reflection efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0026] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an automatic cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention showing the automatic cleaning device installed on the back of a heliostat is provided. Figure 3 This diagram illustrates the automatic cleaning device resetting at night according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the automatic cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention in the morning is shown; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the automatic cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention at noon is shown; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the automatic cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention at night is shown; Figure 7 A schematic diagram of an automatic cleaning device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 8 A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present invention, showing an automatic cleaning device installed on both sides of a heliostat, is shown. Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the automatic cleaning device resetting at night according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown; Figure 10 A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the automatic cleaning device of the present invention in the morning is shown; Figure 11 A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the automatic cleaning device of the present invention at noon is shown; Figure 12 A schematic diagram of another embodiment of the automatic cleaning device of the present invention at night is shown; Figure label: 1. Track assembly; 11. Guide rail; 101. First low track section; 102. Middle high track section; 103. Second low track section; 111. First position; 112. Second position; 113. Opening; 114. Dust outlet; 12. Gravity drive body; 13. Edge support; 131. Horizontal extension; 132. Vertical part; 2. Cleaning assembly; 21. Connector; 211. Middle crossover part; 212. Edge wrapping part; 22. Flexible brush; 3. Mirror surface; 4. Frame. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] The directional terms used in this invention, such as "up," "down," "front," "back," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," and "side," are merely for reference to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for illustrating and understanding this invention, and not for limiting it. Furthermore, in the drawings, structures that are similar or identical are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0029] In concentrated solar power (CSP) systems, the cleanliness of heliostat mirrors directly determines the concentrating efficiency and power generation revenue. Therefore, maintaining mirror cleanliness is a key task in operation and maintenance. However, existing heliostat cleaning methods rely on external energy and manual operation, resulting in high operation and maintenance costs, low cleaning frequency (once a week or once a month), poor cleaning timeliness, and interference with normal solar tracking operation. Traditional cleaning modes often require additional power-driven devices or manual intervention, leading to increased energy consumption and high labor costs. At the same time, due to the difficulty in deploying cleaning equipment and the efficiency of operation, it is difficult to achieve high-frequency and timely cleaning, resulting in long-term dust accumulation on the mirror surface, affecting reflectivity. In addition, the cleaning operation usually requires the heliostat to stop solar tracking or adjust to a specific angle, interfering with the normal solar tracking operation process and reducing the overall power generation time and stability of the system. Therefore, how to overcome the above defects has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art.

[0030] To address this, embodiments of the present invention provide an automatic cleaning device, a heliostat and its frame, a heliostat field, and a power generation system. Utilizing the tilt angle changes generated by the heliostat's frame during daily solar tracking as a driving source, the gravity-driven unit automatically reciprocates along the guide rail under gravity, driving the cleaning components to clean the mirror surface. This eliminates the need for an additional independent power source or manual intervention. Furthermore, the cleaning action is naturally triggered by the tilt angle changes during tracking, avoiding interference with normal solar tracking operations. This significantly reduces maintenance costs, achieves high-frequency, timely automatic cleaning, and improves power generation efficiency.

[0031] To better understand the above technical solutions, the following will provide a detailed explanation of the technical solutions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0032] Please see Figures 1-12 This invention provides an automatic cleaning device, including at least one track assembly 1 and a cleaning assembly 2. The track assembly 1 includes a guide rail 11 and a gravity drive body 12. The guide rail 11 has a first position 111 and a second position 112 at both ends. The gravity drive body 12 is movably disposed in the guide rail 11. The cleaning assembly 2 is connected to the gravity drive body 12. The guide rail 11 is configured to produce an angle change. The gravity drive body 12 moves along the guide rail 11 under the action of gravity, switching between the first position 111 and the second position 112, thereby driving the cleaning assembly 2 to perform cleaning.

[0033] The track assembly 1 mainly includes a guide rail 11 and a gravity drive body 12. The guide rail 11 is a long strip structure and can take various structural forms such as hollow tube, solid strip, and grooved rail. Its cross-sectional shape can be square, circular, rectangular, elliptical, or other polygonal. The preferred material is rigid metal materials such as aluminum alloy and stainless steel, but high-strength engineering plastics can also be used. Its main function is to provide a moving guide path and enable tilt angle and attitude changes. The two ends of the guide rail 11 along its own length direction form a first position 111 and a second position 112, which are the extreme stopping positions of the gravity drive body 12. The gravity drive body 12 is a block-shaped, spherical, cylindrical, roller-shaped, or slider-shaped structure with a certain self-weight. The material can be metal, high-density plastic, or stone. It can provide gravity driving force by its own mass. Its main function is to generate a moving tendency and realize position switching when the tilt angle of the guide rail 11 changes. The gravity drive body 12 is movably disposed inside the guide rail 11 or on the guide surface of the guide rail 11, forming a sliding or rolling fit with the guide rail 11. In the embodiment applied to a heliostat, the guide rail 11 is fixedly mounted on the heliostat frame 4 and can change its tilt angle synchronously with the solar tracking movement of the heliostat, thereby causing a change in height difference between the first position 111 and the second position 112 of the guide rail 11.

[0034] The cleaning component 2 is an actuator for cleaning the mirror surface 3. It can employ various structures such as a flexible brush 22, wiping cotton, or an elastic scraper. The preferred material is flexible, wear-resistant, and does not scratch the mirror surface 3. In this embodiment, weather-resistant nylon or silicone is used to adapt to the high temperatures and ultraviolet radiation of the desert environment. Its main function is to remove dirt from the mirror surface 3 through moving contact. The cleaning component 2 is directly and fixedly connected to the gravity drive body 12, moving synchronously with it without relative displacement. In embodiments applied to heliostats, the cleaning component 2 extends to the surface of the heliostat's mirror surface 3 and remains in contact with it, enabling complete contact with the mirror surface 3 area during movement.

[0035] Specifically, existing tower-type solar thermal heliostat cleaning methods suffer from several technical problems, including reliance on external energy and manual intervention, insufficient cleaning frequency, and conflicts between cleaning operations and normal heliostat operation. By setting up a track assembly 1 and a cleaning assembly 2, the guide rail 11 changes its tilt angle as the heliostat tracks the sun's movement. This causes the gravity-driven body 12 to move along the guide rail 11 under gravity, thereby driving the cleaning assembly 2 to perform cleaning. Understandably, the guide rail 11 is fixed to the heliostat's frame 4 and moves synchronously with the heliostat. When the heliostat tracks the sun's movement, the tilt angle of the guide rail 11 relative to the horizontal plane changes. Since the gravity-driven body 12 has mass, it moves towards the lower end of the guide rail 11 under gravity. During this movement, the gravity-driven body 12 drives the cleaning assembly 2 to slide along the mirror surface 3 of the heliostat, achieving automatic cleaning. Therefore, automatic cleaning is achieved solely by gravity without the need for external energy sources (such as electricity or hydraulics), significantly reducing operation and maintenance costs. The cleaning frequency is synchronized with the heliostat's tracking movement, and multiple cleaning cycles can be completed automatically every day, maintaining the high reflectivity of the mirror surface for a long time. The cleaning process is carried out in coordination with the normal operation of the heliostat, without affecting the heliostat's focusing operation. The entire system has no complex components such as motors and sensors, ensuring high reliability and adaptability to harsh environments such as sandstorms and extreme temperatures.

[0036] Reference Figures 3-6 For example, taking the daily tracking motion of a heliostat as an example: In the morning, the heliostat faces east to track the rising sun, with mirror 3 tilted at a lower angle in the east and a higher angle in the west. At the same time, guide rail 11 also tilts at a lower angle in the east and a higher angle in the west, as shown in the example. Figure 4 The first position 111 (corresponding to the west side of mirror 3) is higher than the second position 112 (corresponding to the east side of mirror 3). Under the influence of gravity, the gravity-driven body 12 moves from the first position 111 to the second position 112, causing the cleaning component 2 to move from the west side of mirror 3 to the east side, completing one cleaning cycle. As the sun moves from east to west, the heliostat continuously tracks the sun, and the tilt angle of mirror 3 changes continuously. At dusk, the heliostat faces west to track the setting sun, and mirror 3 is tilted with the west side lower than the east side. At this time, the guide rail 11 also tilts with the west side lower than the east side, as shown below. Figure 6 The second position 112 is higher than the first position 111. Under the action of gravity, the gravity-driven body 12 moves from the second position 112 to the first position 111, driving the cleaning assembly 2 to move from the east side of the mirror 3 to the west side, completing another cleaning process. Figure 3 At night, the heliostat returns to its initial position, the tilt angle of mirror 3 changes again, and the gravity drive 12 and cleaning assembly 2 also reset, preparing for the cleaning operation the next day.

[0037] The automatic cleaning device in this embodiment achieves coordination with the daily tracking motion of the heliostat, automatically completing the cleaning operation without external energy input or manual intervention.

[0038] Reference Figure 1 In one embodiment, the track assembly 1 is provided in two parts, and the two guide rails 11 are arranged in parallel and spaced apart.

[0039] Specifically, each of the two track assemblies 1 includes an independent guide rail 11 and a gravity drive body 12. Both guide rails 11 are elongated guide components, arranged in a parallel and spaced-apart configuration, maintaining a constant distance between them, and their length directions are aligned to ensure synchronized movement. The two track assemblies 1 are arranged independently and symmetrically, with the gravity drive bodies 12 moving independently within their respective guide rails 11. In an embodiment applied to a heliostat, the two guide rails 11 are respectively arranged at the two side edges of the heliostat's mirror surface 3, or on the back of the mirror surface 3, and are fixedly connected to the frame 4, synchronously changing their tilt angle with the frame 4.

[0040] Due to technical issues such as unstable support of a single track assembly 1 and the tendency for the cleaning assembly 2 to tilt or twist during movement, two parallel and spaced track assemblies 1 are used to connect the two ends of the cleaning assembly 2 to two gravity-driven bodies 12, providing two-point support for the cleaning assembly 2. Specifically, when the two guide rails 11 tilt with the heliostat, the two gravity-driven bodies 12 move synchronously along their respective guide rails 11 under the action of gravity. Because the two guide rails 11 are parallel and the movement of the two gravity-driven bodies 12 is synchronous, the cleaning assembly 2 remains stable during movement and will not tilt or twist. In this embodiment, the cleaning assembly 2 has good stability during movement and uniform cleaning effect; moreover, the superposition of the masses of the two gravity-driven bodies 12 increases the driving force, enabling the cleaning assembly 2 to move more smoothly; and the symmetrical arrangement of the two track assemblies 1 provides good structural balance and uniform force distribution.

[0041] Continue to refer to Figure 1 In one embodiment, the cleaning assembly 2 includes a connector 21 and a flexible brush 22. The two ends of the connector 21 are respectively connected to two gravity drive bodies 12 on two guide rails 11, and the flexible brush 22 is disposed on the connector 21.

[0042] Specifically, the connector 21 is a rigid or semi-rigid rod-shaped structure, and its material can be metal (such as steel bars, steel pipes, aluminum alloy profiles, etc.), plastic, or composite materials, preferably metal to provide sufficient structural strength. The shape of the connector 21 can be straight, zigzag, arc, or other shapes, preferably straight for ease of manufacturing. The length of the connector 21 is adapted to the spacing between the two guide rails 11, and both ends of the connector 21 are connected to two gravity drive bodies 12 on the two guide rails 11, respectively. The connection between the connector 21 and the gravity drive body 12 can be a fixed connection (such as welding, bolting, riveting, etc.), a detachable connection, or a hinged connection, preferably a fixed connection to ensure connection reliability. The function of the connector 21 is to connect the two gravity drive bodies 12, transmit motion, ensure that the movement of the two drive bodies is completely synchronized, and transmit the movement of the two gravity drive bodies 12 to the flexible brush 22. In accordance with the application scenario of the heliostat, the connector 21 extends along the short side of the heliostat, and the two ends of the connector 21 are respectively connected to the two gravity drive bodies 12 on the two guide rails 11.

[0043] The flexible brush 22 is a cleaning element with flexible bristles, comprising a brush body and bristles. The brush body has a strip-shaped structure and can be made of plastic, rubber, or metal, preferably plastic or rubber. The bristles can be made of nylon, silicone, animal hair, or other fiber materials, preferably weather-resistant nylon or silicone to withstand harsh environments such as desert temperatures and ultraviolet radiation. The bristle length can be designed according to the cleaning requirements of the surface to be cleaned. The bristle diameter can be designed according to the cleaning precision requirements. The bristle density can be designed according to the cleaning efficiency requirements. The function of the flexible brush 22 is to perform gentle cleaning on the surface to be cleaned, removing dust, dirt, and other impurities while avoiding scratching the surface. The flexible brush 22 is mounted on the connector 21, and can be located at the bottom of the connector 21 for easy contact with the surface to be cleaned. The connection between the flexible brush 22 and the connector 21 can be adhesive, snap-fit, bolted, or integrally molded, preferably a detachable connection for easy replacement. In accordance with the application scenario of the heliostat, the flexible brush 22 is arranged along the extension direction of the connector 21, and the length of the flexible brush 22 covers the width of the mirror surface 3 of the heliostat. The bristles of the flexible brush 22 are in contact with or close to the mirror surface 3 of the heliostat. When the connector 21 moves with the two gravity-driven bodies 12, the flexible brush 22 slides along the mirror surface 3 of the heliostat, thereby cleaning the mirror surface 3.

[0044] Specifically, in the prior art, the cleaning component 2 has a complex structure, poor cleaning effect, and is prone to scratching the mirror surface 3. To solve this problem, this embodiment designs the cleaning component 2 as a combination structure of a connector 21 and a flexible brush 22. The connector 21 connects two gravity-driven bodies 12, and the flexible brush 22 performs flexible cleaning on the mirror surface 3. The two ends of the connector 21 are respectively connected to the two gravity-driven bodies 12. When the two gravity-driven bodies 12 move along their respective guide rails 11 under the action of gravity, the connector 21 moves synchronously with the two gravity-driven bodies 12. The flexible brush 22 is disposed on the connector 21 and slides along the mirror surface 3 of the heliostat as the connector 21 moves. The bristles of the flexible brush 22 sweep away dust and dirt on the mirror surface 3 during the sliding process. In this way, the connector 21 achieves a simple structure and low manufacturing cost. At the same time, the soft bristles of the flexible brush 22 will not scratch the mirror surface 3. The flexible brush 22 is replaceable and easy to maintain. The flexible brush 22 is arranged along the extension direction of the connector 21 to cover the entire width of the mirror surface 3 and achieve a good cleaning effect.

[0045] As stated above, with reference to Figures 1-6 To adapt to the overall structural layout of the heliostat, the aforementioned automatic cleaning device can be assembled on the back of the heliostat, reducing obstruction to adjacent heliostats. This results in a compact and stable implementation without occupying the outer space of mirror 3 or blocking incident light, as detailed below: Continue to refer to Figure 1 In one embodiment, the connector 21 includes two side portions 212 and a middle bridging portion 211. The middle bridging portion 211 spans across the top of the two guide rails 11 in a direction perpendicular to the guide rails 11. The two side portions 212 are bent from the two gravity drive bodies 12 and pass around the two guide rails 11 to connect to the two ends of the middle bridging portion 211.

[0046] The intermediate bridging section 211 is a long, rigid component, which can be made of metal rods, hard plastic strips, or lightweight alloy profiles. It possesses sufficient rigidity and is not easily bent or deformed. Its main function is to support the flexible brush 22 and provide a stable mounting base for it, while also connecting the two edge-mounting sections 212 to form a complete transmission structure. The intermediate bridging section 211 is arranged perpendicular to the guide rail 11, spanning across the top of the mirror surface 3 and extending along the short side of the mirror surface 3, maintaining an appropriate distance from the mirror surface 3 to avoid blocking incident light under normal conditions. When applied to a heliostat, the intermediate bridging section 211 is positioned corresponding to the short side of the mirror surface 3, with its length matching the dimensions of the short side of the mirror surface 3, ensuring that the subsequent flexible brush 22 can cover the width of the mirror surface 3.

[0047] The edge-wrapping portion 212 adopts a C-shaped rigid strip structure, which can be integrally formed with the intermediate crossover portion 211 or assembled by a detachable connection. The material is consistent with that of the intermediate crossover portion 211, and it has a certain degree of bending and deformation resistance. Its main function is to wrap around the edge of the mirror 3, realize the connection between the intermediate crossover portion 211 and the gravity drive body 12 in the guide rail 11, and then drive the flexible brush 22 to move and clean the front of the mirror 3. The two edge-wrapping portions 212 are respectively set for the two guide rails 11, and both are symmetrically bent in a C-shape. One end is fixedly connected to both ends of the intermediate crossover portion 211, and the other end starts from the gravity drive body 12 on the back side of the mirror 3, bends around the two sides of the mirror 3, extends from the edge of the mirror 3 to the top of the mirror 3, and finally connects with the intermediate crossover portion 211. When applied to a heliostat, the edge portion 212 is arranged to fit the two sides of the mirror surface 3, without obstructing the effective reflection area of ​​the mirror surface 3, and can smoothly bypass the edge to achieve the connection between the mirror back guide rail 11 and the middle crossover portion 211 above the mirror surface 3, so that the flexible brush 22 can reach the front of the mirror surface 3.

[0048] Specifically, to address the issue that the cleaning component 2 cannot directly act on the front of the mirror 3 when the guide rail 11 is installed on the back of the mirror 3, this embodiment incorporates a specially shaped wrapping portion 212. This allows the connector 21 to smoothly transition from the guide rail 11 position on the back of the mirror 3 to the cleaning position on the front of the mirror 3. When the gravity drive body 12 moves within the back guide rail 11, the wrapping portion 212 pulls the intermediate bridging portion 211, causing the intermediate bridging portion 211 to reciprocate along the long side of the mirror 3 above the mirror 3. This achieves effective cleaning of the front of the mirror 3 while the guide rail 11 is concealed on the back. This ensures the compactness of the device structure, avoids obstructing the reflective surface of the mirror 3, and optimizes the overall structural layout by utilizing the space on the back to arrange the drive mechanism.

[0049] Continue to refer to Figure 1 Furthermore, the bottom of the guide rail 11 is provided with an opening 113 to avoid the edge portion 212. The opening 113 extends along the length direction of the guide rail 11, and the edge portion 212 passes through the opening 113 and connects to the bottom of the gravity drive body 12.

[0050] The guide rail 11 serves as the running channel for the gravity-driven body 12. Its cross-sectional shape can be circular, square, or U-shaped, depending on the specific structure of the gravity-driven body 12. In this embodiment, an opening 113 is provided at the bottom of the guide rail 11. This opening 113 extends along the length of the guide rail 11, forming a through or partially through long groove. The main function of the opening 113 is to provide a connecting channel, avoid the surrounding edge 212, and prevent the surrounding edge 212 from interfering with the wall of the guide rail 11 when moving with the gravity-driven body 12. The width of the opening 113 is set according to the diameter or width of the surrounding edge 212, ensuring that the surrounding edge 212 can pass freely while avoiding an excessively large opening 113 that would reduce the structural strength of the guide rail 11. Furthermore, the opening 113 faces downwards, a design with unique functionality. This downward-facing opening 113 structure enables the device to achieve self-cleaning and dustproof effects. When sand or dust adheres to or enters the equipment, it will naturally fall down along the direction of opening 113 due to gravity, thus preventing the accumulation of sand or dust inside or on the surface of the equipment and effectively ensuring the cleanliness and normal operation of the equipment.

[0051] The connection between the edge portion 212 and the gravity drive body 12 is achieved through the opening 113. The edge portion 212 passes through the opening 113 and connects to the bottom of the gravity drive body 12 located inside the guide rail 11. Since the gravity drive body 12 is naturally suspended inside the guide rail 11 under the action of gravity, and its bottom position corresponds exactly to the opening 113, this connection method allows the edge portion 212 to be extended vertically downwards and then bend outwards. In the application scenario of heliostats, this structure allows the gravity drive body 12 located on the back of the mirror 3 to directly pull the edge portion 212 located on the edge or front of the mirror 3 through the opening 113, realizing the effective transmission of force.

[0052] Specifically, to address the issue of how the connector 21 passes through the closed or semi-closed guide rail 11 and connects to the internal drive body, this embodiment creates an opening 113 at the bottom of the guide rail 11, constructing a channel connecting the inside and outside of the guide rail 11. Through this opening 113, the side portion 212 can smoothly pass through the wall of the guide rail 11 and connect to the gravity drive body 12, allowing the gravitational potential energy of the gravity drive body 12 to be converted into the traction force of the connector 21 without obstruction. Therefore, this structural design not only ensures the guiding and constraining effect of the guide rail 11 on the gravity drive body 12, but also achieves effective power output, avoids motion interference, and ensures the stability and reliability of the cleaning device's operation.

[0053] Continue to refer to Figure 1In this embodiment, the flexible brush 22 is disposed on the intermediate crossover portion 211, the flexible brush 22 is arranged along the extending direction of the intermediate crossover portion 211, and the length direction of the bristles of the flexible brush 22 is perpendicular to the extending direction of the intermediate crossover portion 211. The flexible brush 22, as a component that directly contacts the mirror surface 3 for cleaning, is typically made of soft and wear-resistant materials such as nylon, polypropylene, or animal hair. In this embodiment, the brush is made of weather-resistant nylon or silicone, suitable for high-temperature desert environments and ultraviolet radiation. The flexible brush 22 is mounted on the intermediate crossover portion 211 and can be installed by snap-fitting, bonding, wrapping, or bolting. In terms of arrangement, the flexible brush 22 is arranged along the extension direction of the intermediate crossover portion 211, meaning that the root of the flexible brush 22 or its mounting base is in close contact with the intermediate crossover portion 211 and extends along the length of the intermediate crossover portion 211.

[0054] In terms of spatial orientation, the length direction of the flexible brush 22 is perpendicular to the extension direction of the intermediate bridging portion 211. Since the intermediate bridging portion 211 spans across the top of the mirror 3 along the short side of the mirror 3, the length direction of the brush bristles is perpendicular to the mirror 3, meaning the brush bristles face directly towards the surface of the mirror 3. This arrangement allows the brush bristles to contact the mirror 3 vertically downwards. When the intermediate bridging portion 211 moves along the long side of the mirror 3, the brush bristles can sweep across the mirror 3 like a broom, with the covered area arranged along the short side of the mirror 3.

[0055] Specifically, to address the issue of how the cleaning component 2 can fully cover the width of the mirror surface 3, this embodiment arranges the flexible brush 22 along the entire length of the intermediate crossover portion 211, with the bristles perpendicular to the movement path. Thus, when the intermediate crossover portion 211 moves along the long side of the mirror surface 3 under the influence of gravity drive 12, the bristles form a cleaning band covering the entire width of the short side of the mirror surface 3, sweeping across the entire area of ​​the mirror surface 3 during the movement. This arrangement eliminates cleaning dead zones, ensures the continuity and integrity of the cleaning path, and significantly improves cleaning efficiency and quality.

[0056] Reference Figures 7-12 In addition to the aforementioned implementation where the device is mounted on the back of the heliostat, for scenarios where space is limited or installation is inconvenient on the back of the heliostat, the automatic cleaning device can also be adapted and mounted on both sides of the heliostat. Both mounting methods can be flexibly selected based on the actual engineering conditions such as the heliostat support structure and maintenance channel layout to adapt to different application needs. Details are as follows: Reference Figure 7In one embodiment, both track assemblies 1 further include edge supports 13, each edge support 13 including a transverse extension 131 and an upright portion 132. Each transverse extension 131 includes a fixed connection end connected to an external support structure. Both transverse extensions 131 extend in a direction away from the external support structure and are connected to the bottom of the upright portion 132. Both upright portions 132 extend upward in the height direction to support the two guide rails 11.

[0057] Specifically, the track assembly 1 also includes an edge support 13, which serves as the mounting base for placing the guide rail 11 in a specific location. The edge support 13 is typically made of metal profiles, such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel, or high-strength engineering plastics. Its structure can be plate-shaped, block-shaped, or frame-shaped, specifically L-shaped. One end of the edge support 13 is connected to an external support structure, namely the eyeglass frame 4, and the other end extends away from the external support structure and ultimately connects to the guide rail 11, thus supporting and positioning the guide rail 11. Each guide rail 11 can be equipped with multiple edge supports 13, which are spaced apart along the length of the guide rail 11, collectively supporting the guide rail 11.

[0058] The edge support 13 includes a transverse extension 131, which is a key section for changing the position of the guide rail 11. The transverse extension 131 has a fixed connection end, which can be fixed to the external support structure by means of bolt connection, welding, or snap-fit. The main body of the transverse extension 131 extends horizontally, and its extension length is set according to the actual required span. In the application scenario of heliostats, the external support structure usually refers to the frame 4 on the back of the mirror 3. Since the back of the frame 4 often has complex components such as reinforcing ribs and drive mechanisms, it is difficult to directly install long guide rails 11. Therefore, the transverse extension 131 starts from the back of the frame 4 and extends outward in a direction away from the center of the frame 4, that is, it extends to the outer side of the mirror 3, thereby crossing the edge of the mirror 3.

[0059] The edge support 13 also includes an upright portion 132, which is a key section for adjusting the height of the guide rail 11. The upright portion 132 is connected to the end of the transverse extension 131 and extends upward in the height direction. The upright portion 132 can be integrally formed with the transverse extension 131 or assembled with fasteners. The top of the upright portion 132 supports the guide rail 11, raising it to a certain height. In the application of the heliostat, the upright portion 132 is located on the outer sides of both edges of the mirror surface 3, extending upward to support the guide rail 11 above or slightly above the mirror surface 3, providing space for the suspension and movement of the cleaning assembly 2.

[0060] Specifically, to address the issue of the guide rail 11 being difficult to directly mount on the back of the mirror 3 with its complex structure, this embodiment employs an edge support 13. The extension 131 extends outward from the back mirror frame 4 to the side of the mirror 3, and the upright portion 132 supports the guide rail 11. This cleverly avoids interference from the complex structure of the back mirror frame 4, effectively "moving" the installation position of the guide rail 11 above the edges of both sides of the mirror 3. This structural design utilizes the back mirror frame 4 as a stable support base while allowing for flexible arrangement of the guide rail 11 on the side of the mirror 3. This enables the cleaning device to be adapted to heliostats with limited back space or complex structures, expanding the device's applicability.

[0061] Continue to refer to Figure 7 In this embodiment, the two upright parts 132 are of equal height so that the two guide rails 11 are set at the same height. The connecting member 21 is a horizontal bar that extends in a straight line along a direction perpendicular to the guide rail 11. The two ends of the horizontal bar are directly connected to the two gravity drive bodies 12 respectively.

[0062] Specifically, the upright sections 132 maintain a consistent height, ensuring that the guide rails 11 supported at the top of both upright sections 132 are at the same height. The two guide rails 11 are parallel and horizontally aligned, preventing movement jamming due to height discrepancies. The connecting member 21 is a horizontal bar extending linearly along the direction of the vertical guide rail 11. It adopts a rigid rod structure, making it resistant to bending and deformation. Both ends are directly connected to the gravity drive bodies 12 inside the guide rails 11 on both sides, forming an integrated transmission structure. When applied to a heliostat, the horizontal bar spans above the mirror surface 3 and moves synchronously with the gravity drive bodies 12 on both sides, maintaining overall stable movement.

[0063] Specifically, the uneven height of the two guide rails 11 can easily lead to asynchronous movement of the gravity drive body 12, which in turn causes the connector 21 to become skewed and stuck. In order to ensure the continuity of movement, the upright part 132 is set to the same height so that the guide rails 11 are arranged at the same height. The rigid crossbar extending in a straight line directly connects the two drive bodies, thereby ensuring that the movement of the two drive bodies is completely consistent. This can eliminate the risk of movement deviation and stuckness, and make the movement of the cleaning component 2 more stable and smooth.

[0064] Continue to refer to Figure 7 In this embodiment, the flexible brush 22 is disposed on the crossbar, the flexible brush 22 is arranged along the extension direction of the crossbar, and the length direction of the bristles of the flexible brush 22 is perpendicular to the extension direction of the crossbar.

[0065] Specifically, the flexible brush 22 is installed on the side of the crossbar facing the mirror 3. Made of soft, wear-resistant fiber material, it will not scratch the surface of the mirror 3 and is mainly used to remove dust accumulated on the mirror 3 through contact wiping. The flexible brush 22 extends along the length of the crossbar, covering its entire length. The length direction of the bristles is perpendicular to the extension direction of the crossbar, and the bristles extend towards the front of the mirror 3, ensuring full contact with the surface of the mirror 3. When applied to a heliostat, the flexible brush 22 moves synchronously with the crossbar, completely covering the short side of the mirror 3 for thorough cleaning.

[0066] Specifically, improper brush arrangement can lead to blind spots or uneven wiping. To improve the integrity and uniformity of cleaning, flexible brushes 22 are arranged along the entire length of the horizontal bar with the bristles perpendicular to the extension direction of the horizontal bar. This ensures that the contact area between the brush and the mirror 3 is stable and fully covered, thus achieving cleaning without dead angles. At the same time, the flexible contact method will not damage the mirror 3, balancing cleaning effect and safety of use.

[0067] In one embodiment, a plurality of dust outlet holes 114 are respectively provided at the bottom of both ends of the guide rail 11.

[0068] The dust outlet 114 is a through-hole structure located at the bottom of both ends of the guide rail 11. It can be in various shapes such as round, square, or oblong, with the diameter adapted to the needs of dust and sand falling off. It is not too large, which would cause the gravity drive body 12 to get stuck, nor too small, which would affect the dust removal effect. The material is the same as that of the guide rail 11, and it can be formed by drilling, stamping, etc. Its main function is to discharge the dust and sand accumulated inside the guide rail 11, prevent impurities from clogging the internal space of the guide rail 11, and ensure the smooth movement of the gravity drive body 12. The dust outlet 114 is evenly distributed at the bottom of both ends of the guide rail 11, penetrates the bottom wall of the guide rail 11, and is connected to the inside of the guide rail 11 without interfering with other structures of the guide rail 11. When applied to a heliostat, the guide rail 11 moves in the same direction as the frame 4, and its tilt angle changes. When the tilt angle of the guide rail 11 changes, the dust and sand accumulated inside will slide down the inner wall of the guide rail 11 to the bottom of both ends under the action of gravity, and then fall to the outside through the dust outlet 114. No manual cleaning is required, which is suitable for outdoor use environments with strong winds and sand for heliostats.

[0069] Specifically, heliostats are mostly installed in outdoor windy and sandy environments, where dust and sand can easily enter the guide rail 11. Long-term accumulation can cause the gravity drive body 12 to become stuck or jammed, affecting the normal operation of the cleaning device. To solve this problem, several dust outlet holes 114 are opened at the bottom of both ends of the guide rail 11. By utilizing the tilt angle change generated by the guide rail 11 following the movement of the mirror frame 4, the dust and sand inside can naturally slide off under the action of gravity and be discharged through the dust outlet holes 114. This avoids impurities clogging the guide rail 11, ensures smooth movement of the gravity drive body 12, reduces device failures, and eliminates the need for manual cleaning of accumulated dust, further reducing operation and maintenance costs and improving the long-term reliability of the device.

[0070] In one embodiment, the guide rail 11 is a hollow track, and the gravity drive body 12 is disposed in the hollow track and can move along the hollow track.

[0071] The guide rail 11 is a hollow track structure, which can adopt various structural forms such as hollow tubular or hollow groove. It is made of rigid metal or high-strength engineering plastic, possessing sufficient structural strength and resistance to deformation. The inner wall is smoothed to reduce frictional resistance with the gravity drive body 12. Its main function is to provide a closed moving space for the gravity drive body 12, guiding it to move in a fixed direction while protecting it from external dust and rainwater. The internal space of the hollow track is adapted to the shape of the gravity drive body 12, allowing it to move freely without creating excessive gaps that could cause it to tilt or jam. The gravity drive body 12 is located inside the hollow track, forming a sliding or rolling fit with the inner wall, allowing it to move freely along the length of the hollow track without contacting the external structure. When applied to heliostats, the hollow track can be flexibly designed according to the installation location (back of the mirror or both sides) to fit the overall structure of the heliostat. At the same time, the closed hollow structure can effectively block outdoor wind and sand from entering, further ensuring the smooth movement of the gravity drive body 12.

[0072] Specifically, ordinary guide rails 11 are usually open structures, which cannot provide a stable guiding space for the gravity drive body 12 and are easily affected by external impurities, causing movement to stall. To solve this problem, the guide rail 11 is designed as a hollow track. The closed hollow structure provides a dedicated movement channel for the gravity drive body 12. At the same time, the inner wall is smoothed to reduce frictional resistance. This allows the gravity drive body 12 to move naturally and smoothly along the guide rail 11 under the action of gravity without stalling or tilting. Meanwhile, the closed structure can protect the drive body from outdoor environmental corrosion, extend the service life of the device, and meet the needs of long-term outdoor operation of the heliostat.

[0073] In one embodiment, the gravity drive body 12 is a counterweight rolling body that rolls along the guide rail 11; or, the gravity drive body 12 is a counterweight sliding body that slides along the guide rail 11.

[0074] The counterweight rolling element is a self-weight rolling structure that can take various forms such as spherical, cylindrical, and roller shapes. It is made of heavy materials such as high-density metal, high-density engineering plastic, or stone, and can provide sufficient driving force through its own weight. Its surface is smoothed to reduce friction with the guide rail 11. Its main function is to move along the guide rail 11 by rolling, driving the cleaning component 2 to complete the cleaning action. The counterweight rolling element is located inside the guide rail 11, forming a rolling engagement with the inner wall of the guide rail 11. It can roll flexibly along the length of the guide rail 11 without significant jamming during rolling, and can quickly respond to changes in the tilt angle of the guide rail 11. When applied to heliostats, the counterweight rolling element can be flexibly selected according to the structure of the guide rail 11 (hollow track or grooved track) to adapt to different installation schemes, ensuring rapid rolling when the tilt angle of the guide rail 11 changes, driving the cleaning component 2 to complete the cleaning in a timely manner.

[0075] The counterweight slider is a sliding structure with a certain self-weight. It can be in the form of a block or a slider, made of the same material as the counterweight rolling element, and has sufficient weight. A wear-resistant layer or a smooth coating can be applied to the bottom to reduce sliding friction with the guide rail 11. Its main function is to provide a stable driving force for the cleaning assembly 2 by sliding along the guide rail 11. The counterweight slider is movably disposed inside the guide rail 11 or on the guide surface of the guide rail 11, forming a sliding engagement with the guide rail 11. During sliding, it adheres to the inner wall of the guide rail 11 without tilting or shifting. When applied to heliostats, the counterweight slider is suitable for scenarios requiring high stability of movement, avoiding the shaking that may occur with the rolling drive body, ensuring smooth movement of the cleaning assembly 2, and improving the cleaning effect.

[0076] During the process of the heliostat 4 tracking the sun, the tilt angle of the guide rail 11 may change slowly or experience slight wobbling. Specifically, to address the different requirements for friction coefficient and motion stability under various operating conditions, this embodiment provides two implementation methods: rolling and sliding. The rolling element significantly reduces motion resistance through rolling friction, making it suitable for scenarios requiring sensitive response to tilt angle changes and rapid resetting; while the sliding element has a simple structure, low cost, and is more stable at low speeds, making it suitable for cost-sensitive applications or those with high requirements for motion stability. Thus, by flexibly selecting the specific form of the gravity drive body 12, different engineering needs can be met, and the overall performance of the device can be optimized.

[0077] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 11In one embodiment, the heights of the first position 111 and the second position 112 are both lower than the height of the middle position of the guide rail 11.

[0078] In this embodiment, the overall height distribution of the guide rail 11 is specifically configured such that the heights of the first position 111 and the second position 112 are both lower than the height of the middle position of the guide rail 11. This height distribution makes the guide rail 11 appear as a shape with a high middle and low ends, similar to an arch or arc structure. The first position 111 and the second position 112 serve as the resting points of the gravity drive body 12 at both ends of the guide rail 11, and their height settings directly determine the spatial position of the cleaning assembly 2 in the non-working state.

[0079] In the application of the automatic cleaning device to a heliostat, the guide rail 11 extends along the long side of the mirror surface 3, and the length of the guide rail 11 is usually greater than the length of the mirror surface 3, so that the first position 111 and the second position 112 are located at the outer ends of the mirror surface 3 along its length. Under normal conditions, the gravity drive body 12 is stationary at these two positions, driving the cleaning component 2 to be synchronously positioned at the outer ends of the mirror surface 3, and the height of the cleaning component 2 is lower than the reflective surface of the mirror surface 3, so it will not block the sunlight. Only when the guide rail 11 changes its tilt angle with the mirror frame 4 will the gravity drive body 12 move from one low position to the other low position, driving the cleaning component 2 to clean the mirror surface 3 when it passes through the middle high position, and after cleaning, it will stop again at the other low position. By setting the height of these two positions relatively low, the position of the cleaning component 2 in the height direction at these positions can be lowered.

[0080] Specifically, to address the issue that the cleaning component 2, when not in operation, might block incident light and affect the light-gathering efficiency when positioned above the mirror 3, this embodiment sets the first position 111 and the second position 112 at both ends of the guide rail 11 to be lower than the middle position. Since the gravity drive body 12 is typically located at both ends of the guide rail 11 when stationary, it drives the cleaning component 2 to remain at the lower first position 111 or second position 112. It is understood that when the cleaning component 2 is at the lower position, its height is below the reflective surface of the mirror 3, thus avoiding the propagation path of the incident light. Therefore, this structural design effectively prevents the cleaning component 2 from blocking the mirror 3 when cleaning is not in operation, ensuring the normal light collection and light-gathering efficiency of the heliostat, and achieving non-interference between the cleaning function and the light-tracking function.

[0081] Continue to refer to Figure 5 and Figure 11In a specific implementation, the guide rail 11 includes a first low rail section 101, an intermediate high rail section 102, and a second low rail section 103. The first low rail section 101 and the second low rail section 103 are respectively connected to the two ends of the intermediate high rail section 102. The first low rail section 101 and the second low rail section 103 are respectively inclined downward relative to the intermediate high rail section 102 in the height direction, so that the height of the first low rail section 101 and the second low rail section 103 is lower than the height of the intermediate high rail section 102. The first position 111 is formed in the first low rail section 101, and the second position 112 is formed in the second low rail section 103.

[0082] The guide rail 11 is specifically constructed to include a first low rail section 101, a middle high rail section 102, and a second low rail section 103. The first low rail section 101 is one end of the guide rail 11, and has a long, inclined structure. The material is consistent with the guide rail 11 as a whole, and can be made of metal profiles or high-strength engineering plastics. It has good rigidity and guiding properties. Its main function is to form a first position 111. At the same time, the inclined structure reduces the height of the first position 111, so that the cleaning component 2, which is normally docked here, is lower than the reflective surface of the mirror 3. One end of the first low rail section 101 is connected to one end of the middle high rail section 102, and the other end extends away from the middle high rail section 102. The whole is inclined downward along the height direction with a gentle inclination angle, which will not affect the smooth movement of the gravity drive body 12. Its end forms the first position 111, which serves as the normal docking point of the gravity drive body 12. When applied to a heliostat, the first low track section 101 is located on the outer side of one end of the mirror surface 3 along its length, and extends downward at an angle, so that the first position 111 is in a low position on the outer side of the mirror surface 3, causing the cleaning assembly 2 to stop on the outer side of one end of the mirror surface 3 without blocking the light.

[0083] The middle high rail section 102 is the middle part of the guide rail 11. It has a long, horizontal or slightly raised structure and is made of the same material as the guide rail 11. It is rigid and not easily deformed. Its main function is to connect the first low rail section 101 and the second low rail section 103 to form the middle area of ​​the guide rail 11. At the same time, it maintains the height of the middle position, making it higher than the two low rail sections at both ends, providing a transition channel for the movement of the gravity drive body 12. The two ends of the middle high rail section 102 are smoothly connected to the first low rail section 101 and the second low rail section 103 respectively. There are no obvious protrusions or steps at the connection, so as to avoid jamming when the gravity drive body 12 moves. Its overall height is higher than the first low rail section 101 and the second low rail section 103, forming an overall layout that is high in the middle and low at both ends. When applied to a heliostat, the middle high rail section 102 is set in the length direction of the mirror surface 3 and is located in the area above the mirror surface 3. When the gravity drive body 12 passes through the middle high rail section 102, it will drive the cleaning component 2 to move above the mirror surface 3 to complete the cleaning of the mirror surface 3.

[0084] The second low track segment 103 is identical in structure, material, and function to the first low track segment 101. It is a long, inclined structure, with one end connected to the other end of the middle high track segment 102, and the other end extending away from the middle high track segment 102. The entire segment is inclined downwards along its height, symmetrically arranged with the first low track segment 101. Its end forms a second position 112, serving as another normal stopping point for the gravity drive body 12. The second low track segment 103 is parallel to the first low track segment 101, with the same inclination angle, ensuring that the heights of the two low track segments are consistent. This ensures that the height of the cleaning component 2 remains consistent when the gravity drive body 12 is stopped at both ends, preventing situations where one side blocks light while the other side does not. When applied to a heliostat, the second low track segment 103 is located on the outer side of the other end of the mirror surface 3 along its length, symmetrically distributed with the first low track segment 101. Under normal conditions, the gravity drive body 12 can stop here, causing the cleaning component 2 to be located on the outer side of the other end of the mirror surface 3, without blocking light.

[0085] Specifically, to achieve a more stable and reliable layout where the first position 111 and the second position 112 are lower than the middle position, while ensuring smooth movement of the gravity drive body 12 and avoiding jamming, a segmented structure is adopted, consisting of a first low track section 101, a middle high track section 102, and a second low track section 103. By tilting the two low track sections downward relative to the middle high track section 102, the height of the first position 111 and the second position 112 is naturally lower than the middle position, and the connection of the segmented structure is smooth, ensuring smooth movement of the gravity drive body 12. At the same time, the length of the guide rail 11 exceeds the length of the mirror 3, and the two low track sections extend to the outside of the mirror 3, so that the first position 111 and the second position 112 are located on the outside of the two ends of the mirror 3. Under normal conditions, the gravity drive body 12 stops at these two positions, causing the cleaning component 2 to be simultaneously located on the outside of the mirror 3 and lower than the reflective surface of the mirror 3, thereby effectively preventing the cleaning component 2 from blocking the incident light. While ensuring the cleaning effect, the occupation of the effective reflective area of ​​the mirror 3 by the cleaning device is completely eliminated.

[0086] Reference Figures 1-12 This invention also provides a heliostat frame 4, including a mirror surface 3, a frame 4 for supporting the mirror surface 3, and the automatic cleaning device described in the above embodiment. A track assembly 1 is mounted on the frame 4, with a guide rail 11 extending along the long side of the mirror surface 3 and a cleaning component 2 extending along the short side of the mirror surface 3. The guide rail 11 is configured to follow the movement of the frame 4, resulting in an angle change. A gravity drive 12 moves along the guide rail 11 under gravity, switching between a first position 111 and a second position 112, thereby moving the cleaning component 2 along the mirror surface 3 of the heliostat for cleaning. The automatic cleaning device has been described in detail in the above embodiments and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0087] The mirror 3, as the core component of the heliostat, is typically made of high-reflectivity silver or aluminum glass and is usually rectangular in shape. It is used to reflect and focus sunlight. The mirror 3 is fixedly mounted on the frame 4, which is fitted against the back of the mirror 3. The frame 4 is a frame structure welded or assembled from metal profiles, possessing sufficient strength and rigidity to support the mirror 3 and connect to an external tracking mechanism to drive the mirror 3 in tracking motion. The automatic cleaning device is the core component for cleaning the mirror 3. It consists of a track assembly 1 and a cleaning assembly 2. It has a compact structure, requires no external power, and its main function is to achieve automatic cleaning by gravity. Its specific structure and component assembly have been described in detail above and will not be repeated here. The automatic cleaning device is mounted on the frame 4, where the guide rail 11 of the track assembly 1 extends along the long side of the mirror 3, and the cleaning assembly 2 extends along the short side of the mirror 3, covering the width of the mirror 3.

[0088] Specifically, to address the problem that existing cleaning methods rely on external energy and interfere with normal solar tracking, this embodiment organically integrates the automatic cleaning device with the heliostat frame 4, utilizing the tilt angle change that inevitably occurs when the frame 4 tracks the sun as the driving force. Taking the daily tracking motion of the heliostat as an example, in the morning, the heliostat faces east to track the rising sun, with the mirror surface 3 tilted at an angle of 45 degrees (east lower than west). At this time, the guide rail 11 also tilts at an angle of 45 degrees (east lower than west), with the first position 111 higher than the second position 112. Under the influence of gravity, the gravity drive 12 moves from the first position 111 to the second position 112, driving the cleaning component 2 from the west side of the mirror surface 3 to the east side, completing one cleaning process. In the evening, the heliostat faces west to track the setting sun, with the mirror surface 3 tilted at an angle of 45 degrees (west lower than east), with the second position 112 higher than the first position 111. The gravity drive 12 moves in the opposite direction, driving the cleaning component 2 from the east side of the mirror surface 3 to the west side, completing another cleaning process. This enables synchronized operation of cleaning and tracking motion, eliminating the need for an additional power source. Cleaning is completed automatically during light tracking, significantly reducing maintenance costs. Cleaning can also be performed during nighttime reset, achieving automatic maintenance twice a day.

[0089] In one embodiment, the guide rail 11 is located on the side of the frame 4 facing away from the mirror surface 3; or, the guide rail 11 is located on both sides of the mirror surface 3.

[0090] Reference Figures 1-6The guide rail 11 can be set on the side of the frame 4 facing away from the mirror 3. In this case, the guide rail 11 is tightly fitted and fixed to the frame 4, extending along the long side of the mirror 3, and is completely hidden in the back area of ​​the mirror, without protruding from the outside of the mirror 3 or obstructing the reflective area of ​​the mirror 3. In this installation method, the track assembly 1 is fixed through the side of the frame 4 facing away from the mirror 3, and the cleaning assembly 2 extends around the edge of the mirror 3 to the front of the mirror 3 through the edge-around part 212, fitting the mirror 3 and completing the cleaning under the action of the gravity drive body 12. When applied to heliostats, this installation method is suitable for heliostat frames 4 with sufficient back space and relatively simple structure, enabling a concealed structural arrangement, avoiding the guide rail 11 occupying the space outside the mirror 3, not increasing the shadow in front of the mirror 3, reducing obstruction to adjacent heliostats, and not affecting the overall layout and light-tracking effect of the heliostat.

[0091] Reference Figures 7-12 Alternatively, the guide rail 11 can be positioned on both sides of the mirror 3. In this case, the guide rail 11 is connected to the mirror frame 4 via edge support members 13. The edge support members 13 extend outward from the mirror back frame 4 to both sides of the mirror 3, supporting the guide rail 11 above the sides of the mirror 3. The guide rail 11 extends along the long side of the mirror 3, remaining parallel to the mirror 3 with a constant spacing. In this installation method, the guide rail 11 avoids the complex structure of the mirror back and does not need to be directly installed on the mirror back frame 4. The cleaning assembly 2 is directly connected to the gravity drive body 12 of the guide rails 11 on both sides via a crossbar, spanning above the mirror 3, and can move with the gravity drive body 12 to complete the cleaning. When applied to heliostats, this installation method is suitable for heliostat frames 4 with limited space on the mirror back and inconvenient installation, reducing installation difficulty while ensuring the normal operation of the cleaning assembly 2 and not obstructing the reflection area of ​​the mirror 3.

[0092] Specifically, the frame structure and spatial layout of different heliostats vary, and a single guide rail 11 installation method cannot adapt to all scenarios. If only one installation method is used, the device will have poor adaptability and will be difficult to meet the needs of different engineering conditions. To solve this problem, two optional guide rail 11 installation methods are provided. One is installed on the side of the frame 4 facing away from the mirror 3, which is suitable for scenarios with sufficient space on the back of the mirror and achieves structural concealment. The other is installed on both sides of the mirror 3, which is suitable for scenarios with limited space on the back of the mirror and reduces the installation difficulty. Thus, the appropriate method can be flexibly selected according to the actual engineering conditions such as the heliostat support structure and maintenance channel layout, which improves the adaptability of the heliostat frame 4 and the automatic cleaning device and expands the application range of the device. At the same time, both installation methods can ensure the normal operation of the automatic cleaning device and do not affect the heliostat's light tracking and reflection effects.

[0093] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 8In this embodiment, the length of the guide rail 11 is greater than the length of the mirror 3, and both ends of the guide rail 11 extend beyond the edge of the mirror 3 along the length direction of the mirror 3, so as to form the first position 111 and the second position 112 respectively outside the two ends in the length direction of the mirror 3.

[0094] Specifically, the length of the guide rail 11 is set to be greater than the length of the mirror 3, such that both ends of the guide rail 11 extend outward along the length direction of the mirror 3, beyond the edge of the mirror 3. The first position 111 and the second position 112 are respectively formed at the two ends of the guide rail 11 extending beyond the edge of the mirror 3. This means that when the gravity drive body 12 is located at the first position 111 or the second position 112, the cleaning assembly 2 it is located in is outside the mirror 3 in the horizontal projection.

[0095] Specifically, to address the issue of the cleaning component 2 blocking light and reducing the effective reflective area when it remains above the mirror 3 in a non-operating state, this embodiment extends the length of the guide rail 11, positioning the first position 111 and the second position 112 on the outer edge of the mirror 3. When the cleaning operation is completed or the heliostat is not in a cleaning state, the gravity drive 12 moves the cleaning component 2 to the first position 111 or the second position 112 outside the mirror 3. In this way, the cleaning component 2 completely avoids the area directly above the mirror 3, preventing obstruction of incident light. Combined with the aforementioned low height of the first position 111 and the second position 112, the cleaning component 2 is not only horizontally outside the mirror 3 but also vertically below it when stationary, thus completely eliminating shadow obstruction and maximizing the effective light-gathering area of ​​the heliostat.

[0096] Reference Figures 1-12This invention also provides a heliostat, including a support, a tracking mechanism, and a heliostat frame 4. The support (not shown in the figure) adopts a rigid frame structure, which can be made of spliced ​​metal profiles, and has sufficient load-bearing capacity and wind resistance. Its main function is to provide a stable installation foundation for the entire heliostat, fixing it to the outdoor ground or a pre-set installation platform. The tracking mechanism (not shown in the figure) is a transmission structure that can drive the frame 4 to rotate. It can adopt various forms such as gear transmission, hydraulic transmission, or motor drive. Its main function is to drive the frame 4 to track the change of the sun's position, ensuring that the mirror 3 always faces the sun. The heliostat frame 4 includes the mirror 3, the frame 4, and an automatic cleaning device. Its specific structure and working method have been described in detail above and will not be repeated here. The heliostat frame 4 is connected to the support through the tracking mechanism, and can synchronously change the tilt angle and rotate the azimuth under the drive of the tracking mechanism. When the tracking mechanism drives the mirror frame 4 to perform tracking motion, the mirror frame 4 drives the guide rail 11 of the automatic cleaning device to simultaneously change its tilt angle. Under the action of gravity, the gravity drive body 12 switches between the first position 111 and the second position 112 along the guide rail 11, driving the cleaning component 2 to move along the mirror surface 3 to complete the cleaning, without the need for external energy or manual intervention. In order to solve the problems of existing heliostats relying on external energy and manual operation for cleaning, high operation and maintenance costs, and interference with the light-tracking operation, this embodiment integrates the bracket, tracking mechanism and heliostat mirror frame 4 with automatic cleaning function into one unit. While the tracking mechanism drives the mirror frame 4 to track the sun, it drives the automatic cleaning device to complete the cleaning operation. This achieves the coordinated operation of heliostat light tracking and automatic cleaning, which not only ensures the cleanliness of the mirror surface 3 to maintain the reflection efficiency, but also eliminates the need for additional investment in cleaning equipment and manpower, reducing operation and maintenance costs. At the same time, it avoids the cleaning operation from interfering with the light-tracking operation, improving the working stability and practicality of the heliostat.

[0097] Reference Figures 1-12This invention also provides a heliostat field, including multiple heliostats as described above. The multiple heliostats are evenly distributed according to a preset layout, and can adopt various distribution methods such as matrix, ring or fan shape to adapt to different site sizes and power generation needs. Each heliostat has an independent support, tracking mechanism and heliostat frame 4, and is equipped with an automatic cleaning device, which can independently complete the tracking and automatic cleaning operations. At the same time, multiple heliostats work together to concentrate and reflect sunlight to a designated heat absorption device. To address the challenges of cleaning multiple heliostats in existing heliostat fields, including high maintenance costs, poor cleaning timeliness, and consequently, reduced overall field reflection efficiency, this embodiment proposes a heliostat field composed of multiple heliostats equipped with automatic cleaning functions. Each heliostat can perform automatic cleaning without manual intervention or energy consumption using its own automatic cleaning device, eliminating the need for individual manual cleaning of multiple heliostats. This significantly reduces the maintenance costs of the heliostat field, ensures that the mirror surface 3 of each heliostat remains clean at all times, and improves the overall reflection efficiency of the entire heliostat field. Simultaneously, the coordinated tracking of sunlight by multiple heliostats enables concentrated reflection of sunlight, providing a stable source of solar energy for subsequent power generation.

[0098] Reference Figures 1-12 This invention also provides a tower-type solar thermal power generation system, including a central heat-absorbing tower and the aforementioned heliostat field. The central heat-absorbing tower is a tall tower structure with a heat absorber at the top. It can be made of metal and has good heat absorption and heat transfer performance. Its main function is to receive sunlight reflected by the heliostat field and convert solar energy into thermal energy to provide an energy basis for power generation. The heliostat field consists of multiple heliostats, which are evenly distributed around the central heat-absorbing tower. Each heliostat can be driven by a tracking mechanism to face the sun and accurately reflect sunlight onto the heat absorber of the central heat-absorbing tower. To address the issues of high maintenance costs and untimely cleaning of heliostat fields in existing tower solar thermal power generation systems, which lead to decreased reflection efficiency and consequently affect the overall power generation efficiency and stability, this embodiment combines a central absorber tower with a heliostat field equipped with automatic cleaning capabilities. Each heliostat in the field can be automatically cleaned, ensuring surface cleanliness and reflection efficiency. Multiple heliostats work together to reflect sunlight to the central absorber tower, thereby ensuring that the central absorber tower can stably receive sufficient solar energy. This improves the overall power generation efficiency and stability of the tower solar thermal power generation system, while significantly reducing maintenance costs, minimizing manual intervention, and achieving efficient and stable operation of the power generation system.

[0099] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An automatic cleaning device, characterized in that, include: At least one track assembly, the track assembly including a guide rail and a gravity drive body, the guide rail having a first position and a second position at both ends, and the gravity drive body being movably disposed in the guide rail; A cleaning assembly is connected to the gravity drive body; The guide rail is configured to change its tilt angle, and the gravity drive moves along the guide rail under the action of gravity, switching between the first position and the second position, thereby driving the cleaning component to perform cleaning.

2. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The track assembly consists of two rails, which are arranged in parallel and spaced apart.

3. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cleaning assembly includes a connector and a flexible brush. The two ends of the connector are respectively connected to two gravity-driven bodies on two guide rails, and the flexible brush is disposed on the connector.

4. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The connector includes two side sections and a middle bridging section. The middle bridging section spans across the top of the two guide rails in a direction perpendicular to the guide rails. The two side sections bend from the two gravity drive bodies and bypass the two guide rails to connect to the two ends of the middle bridging section.

5. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bottom of the guide rail has an opening to avoid the edge portion. The opening extends along the length of the guide rail, and the edge portion passes through the opening and connects to the bottom of the gravity drive body.

6. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The flexible brush is disposed in the intermediate crossover portion, the flexible brush is arranged along the extension direction of the intermediate crossover portion, and the length direction of the bristles of the flexible brush is perpendicular to the extension direction of the intermediate crossover portion.

7. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that, Both of the track assemblies further include edge supports, each edge support including a transverse extension and an upright portion, each transverse extension including a fixed connection end connected to an external support structure, both transverse extensions extending away from the external support structure and connected to the bottom of the upright portion, both upright portions extending upward in the height direction and supporting the two guide rails.

8. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The two upright parts are of equal height so that the two guide rails are set at the same height. The connecting member is a horizontal bar that extends in a straight line in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail. The two ends of the horizontal bar are directly connected to two gravity drive bodies.

9. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The flexible brush is disposed on the crossbar, the flexible brush is arranged along the extension direction of the crossbar, and the length direction of the bristles of the flexible brush is perpendicular to the extension direction of the crossbar.

10. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Several dust outlet holes are respectively opened at the bottom of both ends of the guide rail.

11. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide rail is a hollow track, and the gravity drive body is located in the hollow track and can move along the hollow track.

12. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gravity-driven body is a counterweight rolling body that rolls along the guide rail; or, the gravity-driven body is a counterweight sliding body that slides along the guide rail.

13. The automatic cleaning device according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, The heights of both the first and second positions are lower than the height of the middle position of the guide rail.

14. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 13, characterized in that, The guide rail includes a first low rail section, an intermediate high rail section, and a second low rail section. The first low rail section and the second low rail section are respectively connected to both ends of the intermediate high rail section. The first low rail section and the second low rail section are respectively inclined downward relative to the intermediate high rail section in the height direction, so that the height of the first low rail section and the second low rail section is lower than the height of the intermediate high rail section. The first position is formed in the first low rail section, and the second position is formed in the second low rail section.

15. A heliostat frame, characterized in that, The device includes a mirror, a frame for supporting the mirror, and an automatic cleaning device as described in any one of claims 1-14, wherein a track assembly is mounted on the frame, the guide rail of the track assembly extends along the long side of the mirror, and the cleaning assembly extends along the short side of the mirror. The guide rail is configured to follow the movement of the mirror frame and change its tilt angle. The gravity drive moves along the guide rail under the action of gravity, switching between the first position and the second position, thereby driving the cleaning assembly to move along the mirror surface of the heliostat for cleaning.

16. The heliostat frame according to claim 15, characterized in that, The guide rail is located on the side of the frame facing away from the mirror; or, the guide rail is located on both sides of the mirror.

17. The heliostat frame according to claim 15, characterized in that, The length of the guide rail is greater than the length of the mirror surface, and both ends of the guide rail extend beyond the edge of the mirror surface along the length direction of the mirror surface to form the first position and the second position respectively outside the two ends of the mirror surface along the length direction.

18. A heliostat, characterized in that, It includes a support, a tracking mechanism, and a heliostat frame as described in any one of claims 15-17, wherein the support is connected to the frame via the tracking mechanism, and the tracking mechanism is used to drive the frame to perform tracking movements.

19. A heliostat field, characterized in that, It includes multiple heliostats as described in claim 18.

20. A tower-type concentrated solar power (CSP) system, characterized in that, It includes a central heat absorber and a heliostat field as described in claim 19, with multiple heliostats distributed around the central heat absorber.

Images