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Development of an Elevation–Fresnel Linked Mini-Heliostat Array

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  • Isaías Moreno-Cruz

    (Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico)

  • Juan Carlos Castro

    (Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico
    Gadgets & Design, S. A. de C. V., Periférico Sur 4302-105, Colonia Jardines del Pedregal, Coyoacán, Ciudad de Mexico 04500, Mexico)

  • Omar Álvarez-Brito

    (Gadgets & Design, S. A. de C. V., Periférico Sur 4302-105, Colonia Jardines del Pedregal, Coyoacán, Ciudad de Mexico 04500, Mexico)

  • Hilda B. Mota-Nava

    (Gadgets & Design, S. A. de C. V., Periférico Sur 4302-105, Colonia Jardines del Pedregal, Coyoacán, Ciudad de Mexico 04500, Mexico)

  • Guillermo Ramírez-Zúñiga

    (Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico
    División Académica de Mecánica Industrial, Universidad Tecnológica Emiliano Zapata del Estado de Morelos, Avenida Universidad Tecnológica 1, Colonia Palo Escrito, Emiliano Zapata, Morelos 62760, Mexico)

  • José J. Quiñones-Aguilar

    (Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico)

  • Camilo A. Arancibia-Bulnes

    (Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico)

Abstract

Heliostats are critical components of solar tower technology and different strategies have been proposed to reduce their costs; among them diminishing their size to reduce wind loads or linking nearby heliostats mechanically, to reduce the overall number of actuators. This document aims to describe the development of a linked array of mini-heliostats which move together in an elevation–Fresnel configuration. This configuration consists of an array of mirrors rotating around linked parallel axes, in a linear Fresnel style with an added elevation mechanism allowing all axes to incline simultaneously in the plane North–South–Zenith; that is equivalent to an array of N linked mini-heliostats moved by only two drives instead of 2N. A detailed analytical study of the Sun-tracking performance of this kind of heliostat arrays was carried out, and an 8-mirror prototype based on optical and mechanical analyses was designed, built and tested. Even though the mirrors are flat, the array produced a rather compact radiative flux distribution on the receiver. The flux distribution is compatible with a slope error of the order of 1 mrad. Peak and mean concentration ratios reached 6.89 and 3.94, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Isaías Moreno-Cruz & Juan Carlos Castro & Omar Álvarez-Brito & Hilda B. Mota-Nava & Guillermo Ramírez-Zúñiga & José J. Quiñones-Aguilar & Camilo A. Arancibia-Bulnes, 2020. "Development of an Elevation–Fresnel Linked Mini-Heliostat Array," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:15:p:4012-:d:394166
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Behar, Omar & Khellaf, Abdallah & Mohammedi, Kamal, 2013. "A review of studies on central receiver solar thermal power plants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 12-39.
    2. Bonanos, A.M. & Faka, M. & Abate, D. & Hermon, S. & Blanco, M.J., 2019. "Heliostat surface shape characterization for accurate flux prediction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 30-40.
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