Heliostat Failure Detection Using Stationary Lights and Cameras
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for detecting failed heliostats in concentrating solar power plants are time-consuming and disrupt power production, as they require regular scheduled tests and passive monitoring that struggles to identify specific faulty heliostats amidst various environmental and operational factors.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing stationary light sources and cameras, with a control system to perform spot-check tests, log failure events, and report operability status, allowing for rapid detection and replacement of failed heliostats without impacting power production, by defining 'bright' and 'dark' points for each heliostat to assess reflection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional scheduled tests are used to detect failed heliostats, then detection reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming testing and disruption of power production
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection by continuously monitoring heliostat operability using stationary light sources and cameras before failures impact power production. The spot-check tests are conducted in real-time during normal operations, allowing early detection of failures without disrupting the power generation process.
Solution Approach 2:
Stationary light sources and cameras are introduced as intermediary devices to detect heliostat failures. These mediators enable indirect observation of heliostat operability by monitoring whether heliostats correctly reflect light onto designated targets, providing reliable detection without requiring direct intervention in the power production process.
2Device complexity
If passive monitoring of flux delivery is used to determine heliostat availability, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to identify specific faulty heliostats
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into multiple stationary light sources and cameras positioned at different locations, each responsible for monitoring specific heliostats or groups of heliostats. This segmentation allows the system to maintain relatively simple individual monitoring units while achieving precise identification of specific faulty heliostats through the collective data from multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical inspection methods with optical-based detection using stationary light sources and cameras. This substitution maintains simplicity in the monitoring system while dramatically improving measurement precision, as optical detection can accurately determine whether heliostats are correctly positioned and reflecting light to the intended targets.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method significantly reduces the mean time to repair heliostats and maintains power production by enabling quick identification and maintenance of faulty units, improving overall heliostat availability and reducing the time required for calibration tests.
Implementation Method 1
Each heliostat has a reflector: a rigid reflective surface such as a mirror that tracks the sun... Hel 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268, 270, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384, 386, 388, 390, 392, 394, 396, 398, 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418, 420, 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434, 436, 438, 440, 442, 444, 446, 448, 450, 452, 454, 456, 458, 460, 462, 464, 466, 468, 470, 472, 474, 476, 478, 480, 482, 484, 486, 488, 490, 492, 494, 496, 498, 500, 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550, 552, 554, 556, 558, 560, 562, 564, 566, 568, 570, 572, 574, 576, 578, 580, 582, 584, 586, 588, 590, 592, 594, 596, 598, 600, 602, 604, 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, 622, 624, 626, 628, 630, 632, 634, 636, 638, 640, 642, 644, 646, 648, 650, 652, 654, 656, 658, 660, 662, 664, 666, 668, 670, 672, 674, 676, 678, 680, 682, 684, 686, 688, 690, 692, 694, 696, 698, 700, 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720, 722, 724, 726, 728, 730, 732, 734, 736, 738, 740, 742, 744, 746, 748, 750, 752, 754, 756, 758, 760, 762, 764, 766, 768, 770, 772, 774, 776, 778, 780, 782, 784, 786, 788, 790, 792, 794, 796, 798, 800, 802, 804, 806, 808, 810, 812, 814, 816, 818, 820, 822, 824, 826, 828, 830, 832, 834, 836, 838, 840, 842, 844, 846, 848, 850, 852, 854, 856, 858, 860, 862, 864, 866, 868, 870, 872, 874, 876, 878, 880, 882, 884, 886, 888, 890, 892, 894, 896, 898, 900, 902, 904, 906, 908, 910, 912, 914, 916, 918, 920, 922, 924, 926, 928, 930, 932, 934, 936, 938, 940, 942, 944, 946, 948, 950, 952, 954, 956, 958, 960, 962, 964, 966, 968, 970, 972, 974, 976, 978, 980, 982, 984, 986, 988, 990, 992, 994, 996, 998, 1000
Implementation Method 2
The stationary cameras may be digital video cameras that may be connected to said network... reflecting artificial light from heliostats onto camera imagers
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for detecting heliostat failures in a concentrating solar plant, the system comprising a plurality of stationary lights and cameras mounted to towers that surround, or are situated within, a field of heliostats. Heliostats may be commanded via a control system to move to a position wherein light may be expected to be reflected from a given stationary light to a given camera, whereupon a first set of images of the heliostat are taken. Heliostats may then be commanded via the control system to move to a position wherein light may no longer be expected to be reflected from said stationary light to said camera, whereupon a second set of images of the heliostat are taken. An image processor may search the first and second set of images to determine if reflected light is present. If reflected light from said stationary light is not found in the images, the heliostat may be determined to have experienced a failure mode. Failed heliostats may then be flagged for inspection, repair, or replacement.