Triangular Heliostat Support Frame for Foundation-Free Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Central receiver concentrating solar energy systems face high costs and complexity due to expensive heliostat manufacturing and installation, as well as the need for significant earthwork and secure foundations to ensure stability in adverse weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A heliostat support structure with a triangular outer perimeter frame, featuring multiple mountings and leg assemblies that form a lattice structure, allowing for easy assembly and stability without individual foundations, and adjustable components for uneven ground, with a design that minimizes optical blocking between heliostats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heliostats are mounted on secure individual foundations or lattice-type structures to ensure stability in strong winds, then stability is improved, but installation cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into modular components: a triangular frame with three legs, multiple mountings distributed along the perimeter, and standardized girders that can be assembled in sections. This segmentation allows for easier transport, assembly, and installation compared to monolithic lattice structures, while maintaining structural integrity and stability.
2Reliability
If significant earthwork is performed to prepare foundations for heliostat support structures, then stability is improved, but installation cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support structures are pre-assembled into complete modular units with all necessary components (frame, legs, mountings) prepared beforehand. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for on-site foundation construction and earthwork, allowing for rapid deployment by simply positioning the pre-assembled units on the ground.
3Reliability
If heliostats are manufactured with high precision to ensure accurate sunlight reflection, then optical efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The triangular support structure with six mountings serves multiple functions: it provides stable support, enables flexible field layouts through standardized configurations, allows for easy maintenance access, and ensures accurate sunlight reflection. This multi-functional design reduces the need for specialized expensive components while achieving multiple performance goals simultaneously.
4Ease of manufacture
If support structures are designed with flexible field layouts, then ease of installation is improved, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure design allows for parameter variations in field layout while maintaining structural integrity. The standardized triangular frame with six mountings can be configured in different orientations and spacings to accommodate various field layouts, and the structure's inherent rigidity ensures stability is maintained across different configurations.
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
The solution reduces installation costs and complexity, enhances stability, and improves optical efficiency by allowing for flexible field layouts and easy maintenance, while maintaining accurate sunlight reflection onto the central receiver.
Implementation Method 1
The heliostats reflect the sun's rays onto the central receiver
Data Source
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AI summary
A support structure (10) for carrying a plurality of heliostats (12) is provided. The support structure (10) includes a frame (20) formed from a number of girders (22). The frame has a triangular outer perimeter and a plurality of mountings (26) for carrying the heliostats (12) are provided along the perimeter. At least one mounting (26) is provided at or near each vertex (16) of the triangular outer perimeter of the frame (20), and at least one additional mounting (26) is provided part-way along each side (17) of the triangular outer perimeter of the frame (20).