Design coupled primary axis tracking, calibration, and demonstration of a solar heliostat
Problem statement
Solar energy can be harnessed many ways, from arrays of solar panels, to fields of heliostats all focusing light on a single receptacle. Heliostats are efficient at redirecting solar radiation but are expensive, contributing to over 50% of the total cost of the power plant. A field of heliostats have potentially high maintenance costs due to each heliostat having two separate motors for repositioning the mirror. In production of a large number of heliostats, the drive costs are $26.67 per heliostat. [1] If multiple mirrors could be linked together so that the number of mechanized parts was minimized, while retaining tracking accuracy, the cost of one of these solar fields would decrease, increasing their viability. The group will refine and continue the work from the previous heliostat group, who developed the concept of aligning a second row of mirrors to work on a single drive. The group aims to improve and implement the solar tracking method to track the sun’s instantaneous position, which includes simulating the heliostat with SolTrace, a software tool developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Simultaneously, the team will refine the SolidWorks models, develop prototypes and testing procedures, and perform a cost analysis for the complete set up and procedure to estimate the size and cost required to deliver 250 kilowatts of solar radiation to the receiver. [1] G. J. Kolb, S. A. Jones, et al, “Heliostat Cost Reduction Study”, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, USA, June 2007. Accessed on: Feb., 17, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://prod.sandia.gov/techlib-noauth/access-control.cgi/2007/073293.pdf
Team members
Jai Khanna – leader
Matt Milostan – communicator
Tazio Stefanelli – accountant
Zach Beaugureau – admin
Client
Ty Neises, National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)