LAPSE:2023.24631
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.24631
Development of an Elevation−Fresnel Linked Mini-Heliostat Array
March 28, 2023
Abstract
Heliostats are critical components of solar tower technology and different strategies have been proposed to reduce their costs; among them diminishing their size to reduce wind loads or linking nearby heliostats mechanically, to reduce the overall number of actuators. This document aims to describe the development of a linked array of mini-heliostats which move together in an elevation−Fresnel configuration. This configuration consists of an array of mirrors rotating around linked parallel axes, in a linear Fresnel style with an added elevation mechanism allowing all axes to incline simultaneously in the plane North−South−Zenith; that is equivalent to an array of N linked mini-heliostats moved by only two drives instead of 2N. A detailed analytical study of the Sun-tracking performance of this kind of heliostat arrays was carried out, and an 8-mirror prototype based on optical and mechanical analyses was designed, built and tested. Even though the mirrors are flat, the array produced a rather compact radiative flux distribution on the receiver. The flux distribution is compatible with a slope error of the order of 1 mrad. Peak and mean concentration ratios reached 6.89 and 3.94, respectively.
Heliostats are critical components of solar tower technology and different strategies have been proposed to reduce their costs; among them diminishing their size to reduce wind loads or linking nearby heliostats mechanically, to reduce the overall number of actuators. This document aims to describe the development of a linked array of mini-heliostats which move together in an elevation−Fresnel configuration. This configuration consists of an array of mirrors rotating around linked parallel axes, in a linear Fresnel style with an added elevation mechanism allowing all axes to incline simultaneously in the plane North−South−Zenith; that is equivalent to an array of N linked mini-heliostats moved by only two drives instead of 2N. A detailed analytical study of the Sun-tracking performance of this kind of heliostat arrays was carried out, and an 8-mirror prototype based on optical and mechanical analyses was designed, built and tested. Even though the mirrors are flat, the array produced a rather compact radiative flux distribution on the receiver. The flux distribution is compatible with a slope error of the order of 1 mrad. Peak and mean concentration ratios reached 6.89 and 3.94, respectively.
Record ID
Keywords
central receiver technology, linked heliostats, solar tower, solar tracking
Subject
Suggested Citation
Moreno-Cruz I, Castro JC, Álvarez-Brito O, Mota-Nava HB, Ramírez-Zúñiga G, Quiñones-Aguilar JJ, Arancibia-Bulnes CA. Development of an Elevation−Fresnel Linked Mini-Heliostat Array. (2023). LAPSE:2023.24631
Author Affiliations
Moreno-Cruz I: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico [ORCID]
Castro JC: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico; Gadgets & Design, S. A. de C. V., Periférico Sur 4302-105, Colonia Jardines del Pedregal, Coyoacán, Ciud
Álvarez-Brito O: Gadgets & Design, S. A. de C. V., Periférico Sur 4302-105, Colonia Jardines del Pedregal, Coyoacán, Ciudad de Mexico 04500, Mexico [ORCID]
Mota-Nava HB: Gadgets & Design, S. A. de C. V., Periférico Sur 4302-105, Colonia Jardines del Pedregal, Coyoacán, Ciudad de Mexico 04500, Mexico
Ramírez-Zúñiga G: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico; División Académica de Mecánica Industrial, Universidad Tecnológica Emiliano Zapata del Estado de Morel [ORCID]
Quiñones-Aguilar JJ: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico
Arancibia-Bulnes CA: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico [ORCID]
Castro JC: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico; Gadgets & Design, S. A. de C. V., Periférico Sur 4302-105, Colonia Jardines del Pedregal, Coyoacán, Ciud
Álvarez-Brito O: Gadgets & Design, S. A. de C. V., Periférico Sur 4302-105, Colonia Jardines del Pedregal, Coyoacán, Ciudad de Mexico 04500, Mexico [ORCID]
Mota-Nava HB: Gadgets & Design, S. A. de C. V., Periférico Sur 4302-105, Colonia Jardines del Pedregal, Coyoacán, Ciudad de Mexico 04500, Mexico
Ramírez-Zúñiga G: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico; División Académica de Mecánica Industrial, Universidad Tecnológica Emiliano Zapata del Estado de Morel [ORCID]
Quiñones-Aguilar JJ: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico
Arancibia-Bulnes CA: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico [ORCID]
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
13
Issue
15
Article Number
E4012
Year
2020
Publication Date
2020-08-04
ISSN
1996-1073
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PII: en13154012, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.24631
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https://doi.org/10.3390/en13154012
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Mar 28, 2023
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