Safe target position computation for heliostats near a concentrating solar power receiver

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Solution Overview

Problem

Concentrating solar thermal power plants face challenges in managing heliostat positioning to avoid directing light onto unintended targets, such as wildlife and plant equipment, due to varying flux requirements and inaccuracies in heliostat aiming strategies.

Innovation Solution

A method involving projecting the central receiver's geometry onto a plane image from the heliostat's perspective, dilating the image with safety margins, and determining unsafe regions to select a safe target point that minimizes flux on sensitive areas, using a control processing unit to adjust heliostat positions and ensure safe targeting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If heliostats are moved to positions that allow them to direct light onto the central receiver to meet varying flux requirements, then the productivity of the solar power plant is improved, but the risk of directing light to unsafe positions and causing damage to wildlife and equipment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflux distribution efficiencyVSAvoidlight damage to wildlife and equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates unsafe regions and safe target positions for heliostats before they are positioned. By projecting the central receiver geometry onto a plane from each heliostat's perspective and dilating with safety margins, the system determines disallowed target regions in advance, preventing harmful light direction before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer between heliostat positioning and light direction. The control processing unit acts as a mediator that calculates safe target positions by considering heliostat geometry, Sun position, and safety margins, thereby preventing direct harmful effects while maintaining productive flux distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If an indiscriminate aiming strategy is used for heliostats not directing light at the central receiver, then the ease of operation is improved, but the harmful effects of light damage to wildlife and equipment increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheliostat positioning simplicityVSAvoidlight damage from indiscriminate aiming

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes targeting parameters based on heliostat position and Sun location. By calculating safe target positions that account for heliostat aiming accuracy tolerances and expanding unsafe regions with safety margins, the system maintains simple operation while preventing harmful effects through adaptive parameter adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If safety margins are expanded to account for heliostat aiming accuracy tolerances, then the reliability of preventing light damage is improved, but the area of safe target positions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight damage preventionVSAvoidsafe target position area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts safe target positions based on current heliostat location and Sun position. By recalculating unsafe regions in real-time and selecting safe targets from available positions, the system maintains high reliability through adaptive safety margins while maximizing the utilization of available safe target area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 approach effectively prevents damage to wildlife and equipment by ensuring heliostats direct light away from unsafe regions, maintaining efficient flux distribution and adhering to motion constraints, while adapting to changing Sun positions and heliostat tolerances.

Implementation Method 1

Concentrating solar thermal power plants utilize heliostats to reflect light onto a central receiver

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9639090B1Safe target position computation for heliostats near a concentrating solar power receiver

Publication Date: 2017.05.02 SEPCOIII ELECTRIC POWER CONSTR CO LTD

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for determining an unsafe region and a safe target in a central receiver solar power plant by projecting the geometry of the central receiver onto a plane image using a perspective transform as seen from the perspective of a heliostat, dilating the geometry of the central receiver in the plane image by a safety margin, and selecting a set of safe target points for the heliostat.