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Heliostat field aiming strategy based on deterministic optimization: An experimental validation

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  • Sánchez-González, Alberto
  • Kontopyrgos, Marios
  • Milidonis, Kypros
  • Georgiou, Marios C.

Abstract

In Solar Power Tower plants, the aiming strategy plays a key role in the performance and interaction between heliostat field and receiver. This work presents an aiming strategy based on a deterministic optimization that maximizes the flux uniformity and minimizes the spillage losses. The algorithm can be fed either by a flux mapping model or by the synthesis – superposition – of experimental images. Both approaches are experimentally tested at PROTEAS research facility, aiming 16 heliostats at a flat Lambertian target. In the comparison between experimental and computed flux maps, the cross-correlation coefficient exceeds 97%. The spillage loss factors are underestimated by the computations: 9.2 percentage points by the model-based and 6.7 points by the synthesis-based approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Sánchez-González, Alberto & Kontopyrgos, Marios & Milidonis, Kypros & Georgiou, Marios C., 2024. "Heliostat field aiming strategy based on deterministic optimization: An experimental validation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:236:y:2024:i:c:s0960148124014745
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.121406
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    References listed on IDEAS

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