Heliostat optical assessment
| DWPI Title: Method for performing heliostat optical alignment, involves determining surface normal variance between calculated surface normal and presumed surface normal, and updating presumed normal based on determined variance |
| Abstract: Various embodiments may include collecting, by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a measuring image of an assessed heliostat in a heliostat field. The measuring image of the assessed heliostat includes an assessed facet forming a reflective surface of the assessed heliostat. At least a portion of a reference heliostat is visible in a reflection on the assessed facet. Also, a surface normal variance between a calculated surface normal of the assessed heliostat and a presumed surface normal of the assessed heliostat may be collected. The calculated surface normal is determined from a point on the assessed facet that corresponds to one or more features of the reference heliostat identifiable in the reflection. The presumed surface normal of the assessed heliostat may be updated based on the determined surface normal variance. |
| Use: Method for performing heliostat optical alignment in a variety of instruments that is built for indoor use measuring individual mirror facets, but outdoor measurements of full heliostats remain a difficult challenge. |
| Advantage: The heliostat alignment is performed by determining a surface normal variance between a calculated surface normal and a presumed surface normal of the assessed heliastat, and thus ensures that mirrors are initially fabricated and installed to precisely achieve desired mirror surface normals, and also ensures that the mirror have high optical accuracy, such that for every point on the mirror, its local surface normal matches the design intent, and hence ensures the productivity of the concentrating solar power (CSP) plant, and enhances the efficiency of the CSP plant. |
| Novelty: The method (1100) involves collecting (1120) a measuring image of an assessed heliostat in a heliostat field by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The measuring image of the assessed heliostat is provided with an assessed facet forming a reflective surface of the assessed heliostat. A portion of a reference heliostat is visible in a reflection on the assessed facet. A surface normal variance is determined (1122) between a calculated surface normal of the assessed heliostat and a presumed surface normal of the assessed heliostat. The calculated surface normal is determined from a point on the assessed facet that corresponds to several features of the reference heliostat identifiable in the reflection. The presumed surface normal of the assessed heliostat is updated (1124) based on the determined surface normal variance. |
| Filed: 9/15/2022 |
| Application Number: US17945157A |
| Tech ID: SD 15599.1 |
| 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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