Alignment method for parabolic trough solar concentrators
| DWPI Title: Line-focusing parabolic trough concentrator aligning method for use in trough power plant, involves shifting projected image based on boresight offset, and adjusting mirror facets to bring element image to coincide with projected image |
| Abstract: A Theoretical Overlay Photographic (TOP) alignment method uses the overlay of a theoretical projected image of a perfectly aligned concentrator on a photographic image of the concentrator to align the mirror facets of a parabolic trough solar concentrator. The alignment method is practical and straightforward, and inherently aligns the mirror facets to the receiver. When integrated with clinometer measurements for which gravity and mechanical drag effects have been accounted for and which are made in a manner and location consistent with the alignment method, all of the mirrors on a common drive can be aligned and optimized for any concentrator orientation. |
| Use: Method for aligning a line-focusing parabolic trough concentrator that is utilized in a solar collector assembly of a trough power plant. |
| Advantage: The method adjusts the mirror facets of the concentrator to bring the element image to coincide with the projected image, thus ensuring an accurate alignment of the concentrator, and hence increasing the performance of the solar collector assembly, while improving the concentration ratio of the concentrator and reducing installation costs of the concentrator. |
| Novelty: The method involves providing a line-focusing parabolic trough concentrator (11) comprising mirror facets (11a-11d) and a heat collection element (13). A boresight offset of a center of an alignment fixture (20) is determined, and an image of the element is photographed with a camera (22). A theoretical projected image of the concentrator and the element image are calculated, and the projected image is shifted based on the offset. The projected image is overlaid on the element image, and the facets are adjusted to bring the element image to coincide with the projected image. |
| Filed: 6/12/2007 |
| Application Number: US2007761396A |
| Tech ID: SD 10161.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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