Alignment and focus of mirrored facets of a heliostat

DWPI Title: Aligning and focusing system for mirrored facets of heliostat, has computing apparatus that outputs instruction pertaining to alignment and focus of mirrored facet based on comparison between reflected image of target and theoretical image
Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to aligning and focusing mirrored facets of a heliostat are described herein. Updating alignment and/or focus of mirrored facets is undertaken through generation of a theoretical image, wherein the theoretical image is indicative of a reflection of the target via the mirrored facets when the mirrored facets are properly aligned. This theoretical image includes reference points that are overlaid on an image of the target as reflected by the mirrored facets of the heliostat. A technician adjusts alignment/focus of a mirrored facet by causing reflected reference markings to become aligned with the reference points in the theoretical image.
Use: Aligning and focusing system for mirrored facets of heliostat used for collecting and concentrating solar energy to solar power tower.
Advantage: Improper focus of the mirrored facet is easily identified through the comparison between the image captured by the camera and the theoretical image.
Novelty: The system (100) has a heliostat (102) comprising of mirrored facets arranged opposite a target (104). A camera (106) captures the reflected image of the target through at least one mirrored facet. A computing apparatus (108) receives the reflected image of the target from the camera, compares corresponding reference points between the reflected image and a theoretical image, and outputs an instruction pertaining to alignment and focus of the mirrored facet based on the comparison result.
Filed: 4/12/2011
Application Number: US13085118A
Tech ID: SD 11629.0
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.
Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate
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