CN103038580A

CN103038580A - Solar field layout and systems and methods for arranging, maintaining, and operating heliostats therein

Info

Publication number: CN103038580A
Application number: CN2011800292930A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 吉尔·克罗伊泽; 约尔·吉隆; 埃亚勒·罗森曼
Original assignee: BrightSource Industries Israel Ltd
Current assignee: BrightSource Industries Israel Ltd
Priority date: 2010-06-16
Filing date: 2011-06-16
Publication date: 2013-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2031-06-16
Also published as: CN103038580B; WO2011158199A2; WO2011158199A3; US20130087139A1

Abstract

At least some of the heliostats can be arranged and operated in such a manner that the maintenance vehicle can pass through the solar field along conditional pathways. The arrangement and control of the heliostats to allow access to heliostats by a maintenance vehicle can enable different heliostat patterns as compared with conventional arrangements. In particular, heliostats in one section of the solar field, which may be less geometrically efficient, can be arranged at a higher density as compared to heliostat in another section of the solar field. In addition, the locations of heliostats in various sections of the field can be optimized based on ground coverage as viewed from a vantage point in the solar tower and/or revenue generation without constraining the locations to particular line or arc patterns.

Description

Solar energy field layout and be used for is arranged therein, the system and method for maintenance and operation heliostat

The cross reference of related application

The application requires the U.S. Provisional Application submitted on June 16th, 2010 number 61/355,271, the U.S. Provisional Application of submitting on August 30th, 2010 number 61/378,382, the U.S. Provisional Application of submitting on September 5th, 2010 number 61/380,237, the U.S. Provisional Application of submitting on May 17th, 2011 number 61/487, the rights and interests of the international application no PCT/US11/26273 that on February 25th, 136 and 2011 submitted to, it all integrally is combined in herein by reference.

Technical field

Disclosure relate generally to solar energy system, and relate more specifically to for the system and method for in solar energy field, arranging heliostat.The disclosure also relates to for the system and method for safeguarding and/or operate heliostat in solar energy field.

Summary of the invention

Embodiment relate generally to of the present disclosure is used for safeguarding and/or operating system, the method and apparatus of the solar energy field of solar power system.Can come safeguarding that vehicle navigates to realize safeguard (such as cleaning, repairing or the replacement) of some heliostat by solar energy field and/or the heliostat with the ad hoc fashion operation.Safeguard that vehicle can pass solar energy field by the permanent or passage of having ready conditions in solar energy field.Can control heliostat to allow safeguarding that vehicle advances along these passages of having ready conditions.

Can arrange heliostat in the part of solar energy field according to more orderly and highdensity pattern, for example close to solar column, simultaneously can arrange heliostat in another part in the solar energy field according to more unordered pattern, for example away from solar column.Therefore can be by controlling some heliostat to open the passage of having ready conditions for the solar energy field of safeguarding vehicle so that can realize approaching the heliostat in the orderly or unordered drafting department.The density of the heliostat in the various parts that can make and arrange that optimization is to improve and/or maximization solar energy produces and/or income produces.Can under not considering about the symmetric situation of basic orientation, select the density of heliostat/layout.

In an embodiment, the method for design and operation solar heat heliostat field can be in the situation that do not make the heliostat position be confined to line or arc to comprise in response to the top of the solar column from solar energy field or near the position it and see that the ground of being predicted by heliostat shelters and be used in the position optimization of heliostat in quite a few of solar energy field.The method can also comprise according to the optimization position constructs the solar heat heliostat field.In addition, the method can comprise select the primary importance in the solar energy field of constructing and the driver's compartment between the second place.At least a portion of selected driver's compartment can be take some heliostat as the border so that when the border heliostat has the first orientation, by at the short of width of this part of the border heliostat definition of the opposite side of driver's compartment to allow safeguarding that vehicle passes through this part.The method can also comprise that the reflective mirror that makes the border heliostat is redirected to the second orientation from the first orientation, so that the width of the described part that is limited by the border heliostat at the opposite side of driver's compartment is enough to allow to safeguard that vehicle passes through this part.The method can also comprise along driver's compartment will safeguard that vehicle moves to the second place from primary importance.At second place place, can the working service vehicle in the structure solar energy field, safeguard one or more in the heliostat.

In an embodiment, the method for solar energy field design can be included in the situation that does not make the heliostat position be confined to concentric arc and to be used in the position optimization of heliostat in quite a few of solar energy field in response to see the ground of being predicted by heliostat shelter from the top of solar column or near the position it.The method can also comprise in response to optimized result constructs the solar heat heliostat field.

In an embodiment, the solar energy field that is used for the solar-powered thermal system can have sets up receiver and will arrange at least 5000 heliostats around this tower in the above so that the field of solar-energy collecting to the receiver on the tower.Method for the manufacture of solar energy field can comprise at least a portion that limits the field, and heliostat will be located in above it.Described at least one part can have along the radius that extends from the tower position for the first dimension of at least 0.5 times of tower height degree and with the second dimension of the first dimension quadrature of conduct at least the first dimension.The method can also be included in the situation of any geometrical pattern position that is not limited to the heliostat in described at least one portion boundary the position in the border that will remain on described at least a portion by solar energy being produced and/or income produces the number that maximization makes the heliostat in described at least one part and arranges optimization.

In an embodiment, the solar energy field that is used for the solar-powered thermal system can have sets up receiver and will arrange at least 5000 heliostats around this tower in the above so that the field of solar-energy collecting to the receiver on the tower.Method for the manufacture of solar energy field can comprise at least a portion that limits the field, and heliostat will be positioned with above it.Described at least one part can have along the radius that extends from the tower position for the first dimension of at least 0.5 times of tower height degree and with the second dimension of the first dimension quadrature of conduct at least the first dimension.The method can also be included in the situation of any geometrical pattern position that is not limited to the heliostat in described at least one portion boundary except the Nei De position, border that will remain on described at least a portion by the tower height with respect to starting from receiver location 30% in advantage point make to shelter maximizing to make the number of the heliostat described at least one part and arrange optimization time average of efficiency for the ground of heliostat, the area on the ground that this efficiency is sheltered by the reflective mirror of heliostat is divided by the gross area of the reflective mirror of the heliostat in described at least one part.

In an embodiment, solar energy field can have the many heliostats that are configured to insolation is directed to the target in the solar column in the solar energy field.Be used for to be included in the situation that is not limited to certain line or arc layout and based on sheltering and be identified for the heliostat deployed position of described many heliostats with optimization algorithm in the ground that the advantage point from solar column is seen in the method that solar energy field is disposed many heliostats.

In an embodiment, the solar column system can comprise solar column and heliostat field.Solar column can have target therein.Heliostat field can center on solar column.Each heliostat can be configured to insolation is directed to this target place.At least annular section away from the field of tower can have heliostat on the concentric arc that is not arranged in centered by the pedestal of tower.Can have the heliostat of arranging according to regular grid pattern or concentric arc around the field of column foot seat inner at least.

In an embodiment, the solar column system can comprise solar column and heliostat field.Solar column can have target therein.Heliostat field can center on solar column.Each heliostat can be configured to insolation is directed to this target place.This can have inner region and outskirt, both centered by solar column.Outskirt can center on inner region.Can dispose heliostat in the inner region according to the line that passes inner region or arc pattern.Can in the situation of the line of not considering to pass outskirt or arc pattern, dispose the heliostat in the outskirt.

In an embodiment, a kind of system can comprise solar column and be deployed in the solar energy field and be configured to make insolation to be redirected to top place or near the target it of the solar column in solar energy field.The marking area of solar energy field can have for total heliostat of 100 heliostats at least to be disposed, and has heliostat so that spread all over the major part of this marking area of solar energy field.Heliostat in this marking area dispose pattern can so that by a series of 20 or more multiple heliostats can not draw parallel lines or arc, can make along this line or arc that heliostat is spaced apart to be no more than along in-plant three times of the average arest neighbors of the heliostat of line or arc.

In an embodiment, solar energy field can have the many heliostats that are configured to insolation is directed to the target place in the solar column.A kind of method for disposing described many heliostats can comprise when solar column on the Northern Hemisphere the time to dispose heliostat with to the north of solar column, comparing higher density in the southern solar energy field of solar column, perhaps when solar column is in the Southern Hemisphere with in the solar energy field in the north of solar column, dispose heliostat comparing higher density on the south the solar column.

In an embodiment, solar energy field can have the many heliostats that are configured to insolation is directed to the target place in the solar column.A kind of method for disposing described many heliostats can comprise one or more times or the 1 year time selected, and for selected one or more times, between the first and second zones of solar energy field, arrange described many heliostats, so that add up to the number of reflector size, heliostat density, heliostat and in the average reflector size at least one different from second area in the first area.This second area can be the first area with respect to one MIRROR SITE in the basic orientation centered by solar column.

In an embodiment, a kind of method for dispose heliostat in solar energy field can comprise the first area of determining solar energy field, in the first area, time in one or more times and/or one or more 1 year, it is not so efficient that the heliostat that insolation is directed to the target place in the solar column is compared on how much with the heliostat in the second area of solar energy field, and disposes heliostat so that the first area has total reflective mirror area or the heliostat density higher than second area in solar energy field.

In an embodiment, the heliostat field that is arranged in the Northern Hemisphere can be included in the receiver tower of heliostat field and at the receiver of tower.Can divide with the line from east to west of the pedestal that passes tower Nan Chang part and the Bei Chang part of field.Receiver can have in the face of the face north side of Bei Chang part with in the face of Nan Chang face southern side partly.Face north and face southern side can have equal area.The total reflective mirror area of the heliostat in the Nan Chang part can be greater than the total reflective mirror area of the heliostat in the Bei Chang part.

In an embodiment, the solar column system can be included in the solar column that wherein has target and the heliostat field that centers on solar column.Each heliostat can be configured to insolation is directed to described target place.For first group of heliostat in the first area of field and second area in second group of heliostat, be used for corresponding of being different from for second group of heliostat of total reflector size, heliostat density, heliostat number and the average reflector size of first group of heliostat.Second area can be the first area with respect to one mirror image in the basic orientation centered by solar column.

In an embodiment, thus the solar column system can comprise solar column and be arranged to heliostat field around solar column.Heliostat density in the second portion that heliostat density in the first in this can be higher than.First can have during one or more time periods heliostat in the second portion with the field and compare on an average on how much so efficiently heliostat.

In an embodiment, can position the solar column that has therein target with solar energy field.A kind of for safeguarding that vehicle safeguards that the method for the heliostat of solar energy field can comprise the primary importance selected in the solar energy field and the driver's compartment between the second place.At least a portion of selected driver's compartment can be take heliostat as the border so that when the border heliostat is in the first orientation, by at the short of width of this part of the border heliostat definition of the opposite side of driver's compartment to allow safeguarding that vehicle passes through this part.The method can also comprise redirects the reflective mirror of border heliostat, so that the width of the described part that is limited by the border heliostat at the opposite side of driver's compartment is enough to allow to safeguard that vehicle passes through this part.The method can also comprise along driver's compartment will safeguard that vehicle moves to the second place from primary importance.

In an embodiment, solar energy field can have the many heliostats that are configured to insolation is directed to the target place in the solar column in the solar energy field.A kind of method for dispose described many heliostats in solar energy field can comprise the heliostat deployed position of the described many heliostats at least a portion that is identified for solar energy field with optimization algorithm so that the required minimal information amount of the definite deployed position of institute on expression line or the arc greater than represent independently half of the required information content of definite deployed position.

In an embodiment, solar column can comprise solar column and heliostat field.Solar column can have target therein.Heliostat field can center on solar column.Each heliostat can be configured to insolation is directed to target place in the solar column.This can comprise inner region and outskirt.Interior and outskirt both can be centered by solar column.Outskirt can center on inner region.Can dispose heliostat in the inner region according to line or arc pattern.Can dispose the heliostat in the outskirt so that the required minimal information amount of the definite deployed position of institute on expression line or the arc greater than represent independently half of the required information content of definite deployed position.

In an embodiment, a kind of electricity-generating method can comprise operation any system disclosed herein.In an embodiment, a kind of with fused salt, motlten metal, pressurization H ₂O and pressurization CO ₂The method of heating can comprise operation any system disclosed herein.

When considering by reference to the accompanying drawings, according to following description, the purpose of embodiment of the present disclosure and advantage will become apparent.

Description of drawings

Describe embodiment with reference to accompanying drawing hereinafter, it is not necessarily described in proportion.In situation applicatory, may be not shown go out diagram and the description of some feature to help following feature.Spread all over each figure, similar reference number represents similar element.

Fig. 1 illustrates the openly schematic diagram of the concept that is installed in the solar energy receiver on the tower of one or more embodiment of theme of basis.

Fig. 2 illustrates the openly schematic diagram of the birds-eye view of the solar energy field of the heliostat that centers on solar column of one or more embodiment of theme of basis.

Fig. 3 A shows the schematic diagram according to the elevation view of the cleaning of the heliostat in the part of the heliostat field of one or more embodiment of open theme vehicle.

Fig. 3 B be according to one or more embodiment of open theme with heliostat field in the close-up illustration of burnisher of heliostat reflective mirror interaction.

Fig. 3 C be according to one or more embodiment of open theme with heliostat field in the close-up illustration of another burnisher of heliostat reflective mirror interaction.

Fig. 4 shows the schematic diagram according to the birds-eye view with the heliostat field of specifying driver's compartment of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Fig. 5 shows the schematic diagram according to the elevation view of the heliostat with the reflective mirror that is in different orientation of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Fig. 6 is the schematic diagram according to the control system of the heliostat that is used for maintenance and/or operation solar energy field of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Fig. 7 shows the schematic diagram according to the birds-eye view of the part of the solar energy field that has therein the cleaning vehicle of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Fig. 8 shows the schematic diagram according to the birds-eye view of the animal activity in the part of the solar energy field of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Fig. 9 shows the schematic diagram according to the elevation view of the cleaning of the heliostat in the part of the heliostat field of one or more embodiment of open theme vehicle.

Figure 10 shows the schematic diagram of birds-eye view of a part that one or more embodiment according to open theme have the solar energy field of advancing of the heliostat that is in various orientations and the cleaning vehicle by solar energy field.

Figure 11 shows the schematic diagram of birds-eye view of a part that one or more embodiment according to open theme have the solar energy field of advancing of the heliostat that is in various orientations and the different size cleaning vehicle by solar energy field.

Figure 12 shows the figure according to the birds-eye view of the part of the solar energy field of one or more embodiment of open theme and a pair of cleaning vehicle in the solar energy field.

Figure 13 shows the figure according to the cleaning vehicle in the solar energy field of Figure 12 of time after a while of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Figure 14 is the one or more embodiment's in the situation that have the view of the part of the solar energy field that the certain altitude from tower of heliostat cleaning vehicle begins in the field according to open theme.

Figure 15-Figure 21 shows one or more embodiment according to open theme and passes and have ready conditions passage and clean the isometric view of a part of solar energy field of the cleaning vehicle of the heliostat in the solar energy field.

Figure 22 shows one or more embodiment according to open theme have the solar energy field of different heliostat layouts in the different piece of solar energy field the schematic diagram of birds-eye view.

Figure 23 shows the schematic diagram according to the feature birds-eye view of the part of the solar energy field of one or more embodiment of open theme, and this feature birds-eye view shows the first heliostat layout patterns in the exterior section and the second heliostat layout patterns in the interior section.

Figure 24 shows the schematic diagram for the birds-eye view of the solar energy field of the institute recognition sample position of the heliostat density of table 2 of having according to one or more embodiment of open theme.

Figure 25-Figure 30 has showed according to the identification of one or more embodiment of open theme various positions with the schematic diagram of the birds-eye view that is used for solar energy field relatively.

Figure 31-Figure 32 is according to the conduct of one or more embodiment of the open theme chart to the number of the heliostat of the function of the distance of arest neighbors heliostat.

Figure 33-Figure 35 shows the schematic diagram according to the birds-eye view of a plurality of towers of one or more embodiment of open theme and solar energy field layout.

Figure 36 is the figure according to single reflective mirror heliostat of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Figure 37 is the picture according to two reflective mirror heliostats of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Figure 38-Figure 39 shows the schematic diagram according to the birds-eye view of the solar energy field of the orderly layout that shows heliostat of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Figure 40 shows the schematic diagram that various parts according to one or more embodiment of open theme have the birds-eye view of the solar energy field in the situation that different heliostats arrange.

Figure 41 shows the schematic diagram close to the feature birds-eye view of the solar energy field of tower according to one or more embodiment of open theme.

Figure 42-Figure 43 shows respectively the openly schematic diagram of the feature birds-eye view of the northeast part of the first and second solar energy field of one or more embodiment of theme of basis.

Figure 44-Figure 45 shows respectively the openly schematic diagram of the feature birds-eye view of the Counties of North-west Five of the first and second solar energy field of one or more embodiment of theme of basis.

Figure 46-Figure 47 shows respectively the openly schematic diagram of the feature birds-eye view of the southeast part of the first and second solar energy field of one or more embodiment of theme of basis.

Figure 48-Figure 49 shows respectively the openly schematic diagram of the feature birds-eye view of the southwest part of the first and second solar energy field of one or more embodiment of theme of basis.

Figure 50 has the elevation view of the heliostat in the situation that different reflective mirrors arrange according to one or more embodiment of open theme for the time in different one day.

Figure 51 is the elevation view that causes a pair of heliostat of the first spacing that one part in the heliostat covers according to being in of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Figure 52 is the elevation view that does not cause a pair of heliostat of second spacing of covering according to being in of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Figure 53-Figure 54 shows respectively the interior section of the solar energy field that the top from tower according to one or more embodiment of open theme begins and the northern view of exterior section.

Figure 55-Figure 56 shows respectively the interior section of the solar energy field that the top from tower according to one or more embodiment of open theme begins and the southern view of exterior section.

Figure 57-Figure 58 shows the schematic diagram according to the birds-eye view of the part of the first and second solar energy field of one or more embodiment of open theme.

Figure 59 shows the configuration of safeguarding vehicle mobile in the single row of heliostats scope that is used for according to one or more embodiment of open theme.

Figure 60 shows motor-driven with the articulated vehicle with its cleaning between heliostat according to one or more embodiment of open theme.

Figure 61 shows and wherein identifies various positions and associated region with the field layout of the statistical property of the embodiment that explains open theme.

Figure 62 A to Figure 65 B shows the comparison between each field computation character.

Figure 66 and Figure 67 show field layout corresponding to prior art and disclosed embodiment for the purpose of different characteristic of diagram disclosed embodiment.

Figure 68 shows a layout for optimized purpose is discussed.

The specific embodiment

Embodiment relate generally to of the present disclosure is used for safeguarding and/or operating system, the method and apparatus of the solar energy field of solar power system.Especially, the disclosure relates to power plant magnitude (magnitude) system rather than navigation system.For example, the peaking flux power level to the total flux of tower and/or target is at least 5 megawatts, at least 10 megawatts, at least 20 megawatts, at least 50 megawatts, at least 100 megawatts, at least 250 megawatts or at least 500 megawatts.

Can drive safeguard that vehicle passes through solar energy field and/or with the heliostat of ad hoc fashion operation to realize the cleaning of heliostat.The operation of safeguarding the control of vehicle and/or heliostat can be so that the possibility of the native country animal of infringement such as desert tortoise and/or its habitat reduces and/or minimizes.Therefore, can promote the coexistence of compromised and/or endangered species or animal that solar energy field and protected plan cover.Although above discuss in conjunction with the desert tortoise, this embodiment can be used for the growth of vegetation is reacted, and this vegetation can be moved or be dead and reappear in different positions.

Safeguard that vehicle can pass solar energy field by the permanent passage in solar energy field.In addition or alternatively, can with safeguard vehicle can along the passage of having ready conditions (that is, when heliostat is orientated the receiver of aiming in the solar column certain maintenance vehicle via this passage normally with intransitable passage) by the mode of solar energy field arrange and control in the heliostat at least some.

Can make it possible to realize arrange from routine in order to the layout of the heliostat of safeguarding the vehicle approach heliostat that allows to pass solar energy field and control and compare different heliostat patterns.Especially, can for example arrange close to the heliostat in the part of the solar energy field of solar column with more orderly and highdensity pattern (namely being confined to line or arc), can arrange for example away from the heliostat in the another part in the solar energy field of solar column with the relative so not orderly pattern that is not limited to certain line or arc simultaneously.Obtain approaching the heliostat in any part by controlling some heliostat with the passage of having ready conditions of opening for the solar energy field of safeguarding vehicle.The density of the heliostat in the various parts that can make and arrange that optimization is to improve and/or maximization solar energy produces and/or income produces.Can under not considering about the symmetric situation of basic orientation, select the density of heliostat/layout.Especially, the density, number, total reflector size and/or the average reflector size that are used for heliostat can be larger than the heliostat in another zone in solar energy field for the zone of the solar energy field with poor efficiency of comparing (the insolation amount that namely reflects for the target place at tower of given reflector size), and this is for example owing to the cosine loss that is associated with the geographical position of heliostat or the reason of other factors.In addition or alternatively, be used for density, number, total reflector size and/or the average reflector size of heliostat can be in some zone of solar energy field the larger so that amount of power generation and/or be directed to the amount of insolation at target place and/or the uniformity condition of time in time and/or one or more a year in one or more a day (the uniform outer surface temperature or the even heat flux that for example are used for the receiver of tower) optimization.

With reference now to Fig. 1,, shows the diagram of solar column system.Can be with solar column system configuration precedent as producing solar steam and/or will be such as fluid or the gas-heated of fused salt.This system can comprise solar column 18, and its solar energy field 16 from independent heliostat 12 (only illustrating two, although actual field can comprise thousands of heliostats 12) receives the focusing daylight 10 that reflects.Solar energy receiver 20 can be installed on the solar column 18.Solar energy receiver 20 for example can comprise to be arranged at various height or position and/or serve the one or more independent receiver of difference in functionality.Solar energy receiver 20 can be configured to use by heliostat 12 and reflex to insolation 14 on the receiver 20 with water and/or steam and/or supercritical steam heating.For example, solar column 18 can be at least 25 meters high, at least 50 meters high, at least 75 meters high or even higher.In Fig. 1, only illustrate some parts in order to understand and to discuss.The physical embodiments of solar column system can comprise for example additional optics, control system, sensor, pipeline, generator and/or turbine, and is not shown in Fig. 1.

In an embodiment, auxiliary reflector can receive the insolation 10 of reflecting from heliostat 12.Then auxiliary reflector can reflex to insolation downwards and be positioned at ground level or near the receiver it.In an embodiment, can in single solar energy field 16 or in each solar energy field 16, provide two or more solar columns 18.Each tower 18 can be associated with each solar energy system receiver of for example solar energy system steam receiver.In an embodiment, at any given time, can make any one solar energy receiver in the given heliostat sensing tower.

In an embodiment, a more than solar energy receiver 20 can be installed in the tower 18.Can adjust the aiming of heliostat so that another in the solar energy receiver that moves in the same tower in the solar energy receiver of barycenter from tower 18 of the reflected beam 10 of tower 18 places projections.Solar energy receiver 20 can comprise steam generator, steam superheater, steam reheater, photovoltaic panel, fused salt receiver, air receiver, helium receiver, particle receiver or be configured to solar energy is converted to any combination of any other receiver of electricity or heat.

Fig. 2 is the simplification birds-eye view of embodiment that comprises field 16 the solar energy system of independent heliostat.It should be noted this view not drawn on scale and for the purpose of understanding, be simplified.Note that can be in the situation that arrange heliostat along concentric channels layout heliostat with the radial symmetric pattern with respect to tower 18.In an embodiment, can periodically clean the heliostat reflective mirror.Alternatively or in addition, the one or more additional maintenance of repairing or replacing such as heliostat be can one by one carry out and great majority or all reflective mirrors in the heliostat field are operated to.For this reason and with reference to figure 3A, can provide and safeguard vehicle 30 in order to approaching to each heliostat 12 or its part is provided, such as the reflecting surface of reflective mirror 13.Safeguard that vehicle 30 can be automatic machinery people vehicle, by the driver's operation in the vehicle 30 or by driver's (namely by remote control) operation away from vehicle 30.Can comprise controller 32 on the vehicle 30 so that can realize long-range and/or robot control safeguarding vehicle-mountedly.

Safeguard that vehicle 30 can advance along the driving path between heliostat 12A, the 12B, it is by spaced apart to allow vehicle 30 to pass through fully.For example, safeguard that vehicle 30 can have the Breadth Maximum D less than the distance between heliostat 12A, the 12B ₃₀Heliostat 12A, 12B can be spaced apart fully, even when angled or aiming receiver, and the distance D between the outermost portion of

heliostat

12A, 12B _12ABStill greater than the width D of vehicle 30 ₃₀To allow vehicle 30 to pass through.The part of heliostat alternatively, heliostat 12A, 12B more closely can be arranged together, so that at least for some reflective mirror orientation, will be disturbed mutually with vehicle 30.In order to allow vehicle 30 pass through, can control the reflective mirror of

heliostat

12A, 12B to move to the position of perpendicular, so that the distance D between the vertical reflective mirror _MaxWidth D greater than vehicle ₃₀

Can be that vehicle 30 can directly approach although be adjacent to heliostat 12A, the 12B in the driving path of vehicle 30, can drive the path with respect to this and will or hide away from other heliostats 12C-12E isolation in this path.Safeguard that vehicle 30 can comprise and to cross heliostat with the arm 34 near these hiding heliostat 12C-12E.Arm 34 can be have vertically extending part 36A substantially, horizontal component 36B and the substantially vertical stretch that stops in cleaning actuator 38 divide the robots arm of 36C substantially.One or more parts of arm 34 can be stretch so that can realize crossing the heliostat (for

example heliostat

12A, 12B) that is adjacent to the path to approach the variation of the length of hiding heliostat (for example heliostat 12C-12E).Certainly, according to one or more contemplated example, can also be useful on other layouts that allow to approach the arm 34 of hiding heliostat.For example, vehicle 30 can provide suspension bracket be used to the heliostat of crossing the driving path that is adjacent to vehicle (referring to Figure 15-Figure 21).

The example of safeguarding vehicle 30 includes but not limited to clean vehicle, for example be used for to promote reflective mirror to tilt, and the heliostat of other types safeguards vehicle, for example in order to repair and/or replace the heliostat reflective mirror.Safeguard that vehicle 30 can have length, width and height, wherein each is 0.5m at least, at least 1m, at least 1.5m, at least 2m, at least 3m or 10m at least.Safeguard that ratio between the different dimensions of vehicle 30 (being the ratio between in length, width and the height one and length, width and the height another) can be at least 0.25, at least 0.5, at least 0.75, at least 1, at least 1.25, at least 1.5, at least 2 or at least 4.Alternatively or in addition, safeguard that the ratio between the different dimensions of vehicle 30 can be at the most 0.025, at the most 0.5, at the most 0.75, at the most 1.0, at the most 1.25, at the most 1.5, at the most 2.0, at the most 4.0, at the most 6.0, at the most 8.0 or at the most 10.0.Safeguard that vehicle can have the vehicle shape of any type, include but not limited to rectangular prism or cylindrical shape basically.

Safeguard that vehicle 30 can be relatively large vehicle, such as platform truck or similar vehicles (as for example as shown in Figure 15-Figure 21).According to the size of driver's compartment with safeguard the size of vehicle 30, safeguarding that vehicle 30 may not have is enough to rotating space when it runs into barrier along passage.Therefore, safeguard that vehicle may need to turn round oppositely rather than turns to, this bring problem may for traditional oversize vehicle.In an embodiment, can will safeguard that vehicle is designed to receive easy reverse operating in the driver's compartment channel content.For example, safeguard vehicle can comprise a pair of driving cabin-front deck and rear deck-so that the driver can be alternately at the different ends operation vehicles of vehicle to advance along the direction of expectation.In another example, vehicle 30 can have rotatable cabin, so that the driver can make this cabin be rotated into the direction of facing expectation.Alternatively or in addition, vehicle 30 can have relatively closely radius of turn, for example by having four-wheel or multi-wheel steering, turn round at driver's compartment to allow vehicle 30.

For the vehicle of safeguarding on the surface of the reflective mirror 13 that is designed to clean heliostat, the terminal 38A of the cleaning of arm 34 can comprise and for example contacts cleaning element 37, shown in Fig. 3 B.Contact cleaning element 37 can contact the surface of reflective mirror 13 so that from surface removal dirt and the chip of reflective mirror.For example, contact cleaning element 37 can include but not limited to wiper, sponge or grinding-material.Alternatively or in addition, the terminal 38B of the cleaning of arm 34 can comprise for example be used for minute surface at a distance of setpoint distance D _35BThe place makes fluid 39 flow to device on the reflective mirror 13.For example, the device 33 that is used for effluent fluid can comprise one or more nozzles, and it is used for pressure fluid is directed on the surface of reflective mirror in order to remove therefrom dirt and chip.For example, this fluid can include but not limited to water or cleaning fluid.

One or more camera 38F can be attached to cleaning actuator 38 and/or can be attached to vehicle 30 to obtain the image of heliostat with a plurality of camera 30F with one.This image can obtain image (obtaining a plurality of views with a plurality of positions during the vehicle mobile) from a plurality of angles when vehicle is fixed or be mobile.Controller can obtain image and process to calculate position and the orientation of the heliostat that will clean.Can also process image need to determine whether the cleaning heliostat.Can confirm the heliostat position and be oriented in the preset range to allow cleaning and/or can be exactly and accurately calculate to control orientation and the location of cleaning actuator 30.

With reference to Figure 59, truck 612 has centrally aligned pit 620, and its heliostat 606 that allows truck to drive on vertical or near upright position travels.Cleaning actuator 608 can arrive heliostat 606 (the second cleaning actuator 610 that illustrates can be provided with retracting), and

extension

614a and 614b laterally stretch out with near heliostat 602 cleaning with cleaning actuator 618 simultaneously.The feature that can be applied to the present embodiment of any embodiment described herein is to make wheel 616 spaced apart to extend in the space 622 below adjacent heliostat so that wider attitude (stance) to be provided.Shown configuration can provide enough wide attitude to allow truck 612 along almost passing through in the width spaces of single heliostat adds rut in the minimum spacing nargin when obtaining stability.This configuration can be extended to the gap 620 that has around a plurality of heliostats, it is orientable to clean each heliostat on every side wherein cleaning actuator.

In above various embodiment or in the claims, vehicle or truck can be equipped with the equipment of curvilinear style pilot (cow catcher) formula to make harmlessly animal away from the route turning of wheel.Blade can have the flexible edge to allow to embrace the surface.Alternatively, can provide proximity detector (acoustics, infrared or other) or imaging device (laser scanner, radar, camera etc.) and a series of fluidic generator to impel animal away from the path of vehicle at this type of pilot (or as an alternative).Can provide skirtboard in the side in case the stop thing is movable below wheel.

Figure 60 shows between heliostat motor-driven with the articulated vehicle with its cleaning.In an embodiment, vehicle 640 has central spine 638, and its length can be variable.Alternatively, can use any type of regular length chassis.Pivoting bracket 642 (for example, wheel shaft) allows the operation wheel to pass through around heliostat, and is spaced apart with the average distance between the heliostat in its zone that vehicle operates therein.Cleaning part 634 can clean on level or nearly horizontal level or at any other locational heliostat.Cleaning part 634 can be can locate and orientable.Same configuration 640 can be adopted a plurality of cleaning actuators.The detection of the position by heliostat 630 can realize a plurality of frees degree and complicated control.

If in solar energy field, there is not the path for any one group of reflective mirror orientation of heliostat, vehicle can at first with in the situation that another heliostat of solar energy field contacts or collides directly not contacting with heliostat, then be considered as heliostat used herein concealed heliostat with respect to certain maintenance with this path.In other words, for concealed heliostat, each path from the original position of vehicle (or solar energy field outside position) to concealed heliostat will require the collision with one or more other heliostats except concealed heliostat.Term " concealed heliostat " or " have ready conditions can near heliostat " refer to the ability that specific vehicle contacts with heliostat with layout based on the geometric properties of the heliostat of the geometric properties of this vehicle and solar energy field.When thinking that heliostat is concealed, might settled date reflective mirror orientation/configuration for the institute of all heliostats in groups that are used for solar energy field, prevent contacting between vehicle and the concealed heliostat with other heliostats.As discussed below, when heliostat is to have ready conditions when come-at-able, this only refers under certain conditions (being reflective mirror orientation/configuration) and prevents and the contacting of the heliostat of solar energy field.

When above vehicle being called when contacting with specific heliostat, this refers to vehicle body along the position in the driving path of vehicle and directly do not contact the ability of heliostat by reaching heliostat with slender arm 34.Therefore, when vehicle 30 is designated as can contact specific heliostat the time, the 4m of the position that it refers on the main body of vehicle and/or on the wheel (or rut or pedal or be used for the pedal that crawler type/pedal drives vehicle) and/or the mass centre of vehicle or any position on the vehicle in 3m or 2m or the 1m, it can contact or touch specific heliostat physically.

Some heliostat can stop safeguards directly approaching of 30 pairs of concealed heliostats of vehicle, because heliostat is relatively closely disposed each other in relatively intensive mode, the reflective mirror of heliostat is enough large, thereby stop passing through between the adjacent heliostat, and/or heliostat disposes (for example staggered or be not limited to line or the arc pattern of the overall situation) with specific geometric ways, and it can limit safeguards the mobility (for example because the radius of turn of vehicle or the size of vehicle) of vehicle between heliostat.

In an embodiment, the heliostat 12 in the solar energy field 16 or in the specific part of solar energy field 16 can be arranged so that the insufficient space between the adjacent heliostat so that safeguard vehicle and between it, pass through.Safeguard that therefore vehicle can pass solar energy field 16 or its part via driver's compartment or the track of well definition.With reference now to Fig. 4,, heliostat 12 is with relatively intensive deployment arrangements, so that on the scene 16 the part, safeguard that vehicle may not pass through therefrom.One or more driver's compartments 42 can be radial directed, and one or more driver's compartments 40 can be the basically zones of annular centered by solar column 18 simultaneously.Although it is continuous that driver's

compartment

40 and 42 is illustrated as, driver's compartment can be divided into various sections, exist only in some part of field 16 so that distinguish 40 and/or 42, and be not continuous by the field therefore.

Can define driver's compartment with respect to one or more dimensions of safeguarding vehicle 30, may not can form driver's compartment for relatively large zone because can form thing for the driver's compartment of less vehicle.In solar energy field 16, can with solar energy field 16 most at least or most of (for example at least 80% 90% or 95% 99% or more than) be considered as the part in " without driving " district.Safeguard that vehicle 30 can not approach or pass " without driving " district, thereby the animal in solar energy field provides shielding and/or No Attack Area.Therefore, reduce widely and/or minimized because the movement in solar energy field and to the hurtful possibility of animal.

In addition, the layout of heliostat can allow animal to pass through the movement of solar energy field 16, though therein heliostat density may sizable " without driving " district in.With reference now to Fig. 5,, shows the heliostat 12 that reflective mirror 13 is in different orientation.When reflective mirror 13 was in the perpendicular orientation, heliostat provided minimum vertical headroom H ₁For example, vertical clearance H ₁Can be at 200cm, 0.5m, 1m or be enough to be provided for animal reflective mirror below by the scope of any other value of headroom in.Alternatively or in addition, vertical clearance can based on the minimum point of the reflective mirror 13 during the normal operating, namely be different from the orientation of the perpendicular shown in Fig. 5.

Zone below heliostat 12 is limited in the substantial horizontal orientation by reflective mirror 13, thereby defines the first horizontal clearance L ₁With the second horizontal clearance L ₂, each has the certain width (not shown), wherein, animal can be not by heliostat 12 and/or safeguard that vehicle 30 freely roams leisurely with stopping.Supporting construction 15 such as pyller remains on specific orientation with reflective mirror 13.Supporting construction 15 provides at the ground level place has the length L that animal will can excessively not approach ₃Barrier with the width (not shown).Yet, length L ₃Basically less than length L ₁And L ₂Thereby, allow in the most at least or major part in the zone heliostat 12 below for for the animal of desert tortoise, being come-at-able.It should be noted that the desert animal that includes but not limited to the desert tortoise trends towards than the vertical clearance H that is provided by heliostat ₁Short.

The attended operation of solar power system (comprising heliostat and/or generating in the solar energy field) and/or the control of practical operation can based on many factors, include but not limited to cleaning time table, animal information and make the power generation optimization.For example, with reference to figure 6, the maintenance of solar energy field and/or the control of operation 60 are also taken zoologic some information 62 into account alternatively.In addition, the control 60 of the maintenance of solar energy field and/or operation can will be stored in the information 64 of (separating with control system 60 or with control system 60) in the memory for example and take into account about the information 66 of solar energy field 16 itself.Control system 60 therefore can hinged output 68 in order to safeguard (for example cleaning, repair or replace heliostat) and/or control (for example heliostat aiming or boiler attendance) solar energy field 16.

About animal information 62, control system 60 can be taken one or more different factors into account, includes but not limited to that the animal that observed animal position, the animal position of predicting, observed animal move, predict is moved, observed animal habitat position and/or the animal habitat position of predicting.For example, can come the animal in the solar energy field 16 is tagged with radio transmitter or other mechanism of tagging, so that the position of emitter or label is enough to describe the position of animal.In another example, can monitor with radar, sonar, ultrasonic wave, infrared thermoviewer and/or visual light imaging device position and/or the movement of animal.In another example, can use about animal position or mobile data and predict that animal is in the position of time period after a while, in the after a while movement of time period, perhaps predict position and the shape (discussion that vide infra and be associated with Fig. 8) of the used area on animal or animal habitat ground with the prediction animal.Prediction can be carried out or as being input to the part of the animal information 62 of control system 60 by control system 60.

Can determine and/or predict animal position, movement and/or habitat with the combination of one or more image processing techniques or image processing techniques.For example, one or more positions that can be in solar energy field 16 and/or at any maintenance cart 30 and/or imaging vehicle (namely safeguarding the less and/or more movement of vehicle) is upper and/or can obtain still image and/or a series of images (for example video) with one or more cameras to any other position that the part of solar energy field 16 is carried out imaging.A non-limiting example of this type of image processing techniques relates to the general motion detection routine that adopts of digital camera.In another example; safeguard the database of the image of one or more " target species ", and can attempt and to mate from the candidate image (it can comprise or can not comprise animal) of solar energy field and one or more images in the database of the image of the target species of for example in imminent danger or threatened species.For example can comprise this type of database in the memory 64.

Alternatively, can position and identify with coming such as the sound system of acoustics imaging or passive audio detection and pattern-recognition animal moved with positional information and event.For example, can be by obtaining audio frequency from a plurality of location loudspeaker and carrying out triangulation and determine that the position is to determine position and speed.Can generate other information of forecastings based on the model of animal behavior and current location and track and historical position and trace information.Described therein among all embodiment of optical means and equipment, being understood that can be in the situation that feasiblely replaces the last function that these are identified to provide with this type of acoustic method and equipment.In addition, can use satellite or air-borne imagery (the visible or non-visible that comprises radar, infrared ray, ultraviolet imaging data) to predict the movement of animal of other weakness zones of care, and can offer system to be used for route planning as input as mentioned above.

In an embodiment, the image in the zone of solar energy field 16 and/or any other physics reading can be categorized as the existence of the non-domestic animal of (i) indication and/or (ii) not indicate the existence of non-domestic animal.This classification can be depended on to come the physics reading of self-fields and/or be used for one or more threshold values that there is the time of animal in decision data indication solar energy field.The value of these threshold values can depend on and " wrong report (false positive) " (namely animal determines that animal dis exists when in fact not having animal) and the cost that is associated with " failing to report (false negative) " (determining that when in fact having animal animal does not exist).Can determine these threshold values based on each species, wherein give more considerations (such as the lower threshold value that can cause more wrong reports in imminent danger or threatened species.The information about animal information 62 that offers control system 60 can comprise the input from operator or expert (such as the naturalist).For example, the image of each several part that can provide solar energy field to the operator to be to be used for further classification, namely determines the endangered species that animal whether in fact must lower threshold value.

Can detect in many ways the position on animal habitat ground.In one example, the naturalist can the artificially in the position on solar energy field 16 interior walkings and identification animal habitat ground 74, comprise being positioned at habitat underground and that stand to safeguard the broken ring of vehicle.In another example, can be manually and/or automatically obtain and analysis image manually and/or automatically.In another example, As time goes on follow the tracks of the movement of animal, and determine the position (referring to the discussion that for example is associated with Fig. 8) of animal dwelling/habitat based on the result who follows the tracks of.

Except the database of animal painting, memory can comprise that the various parts of solar energy field 16 or the image of different schemes used in definite maintenance or control output for control system 60 at 68 o'clock.In addition or alternatively, can also be with the cleaning historical storage of the heliostat that utilizes and/or driver's compartment in memory.As below describing in further detail, can stay some heliostat and not clear up, perhaps some driver's compartments may be because the existence of animal or its habitat and impassabitity.Memory 64 can be stored this information for control system 60 access.For example, control system 60 can for cleaning, again aim at or compensate dirty heliostat and heliostat in a preferential order arranged and/or select driver's compartment or replace driver's compartment in order to use this information during the cleaning heliostat.

In addition or alternatively, control system 60 can receive about the information 66 of solar energy field in order to determine to safeguard and/or operation output 68.For example, solar energy field information 66 can include but not limited to position, the heliostat 12 of the heliostat 12 in the solar energy field 16 desired operation (for example solar tracking information), safeguard vehicle dimension, safeguard vehicle location the position of path (for example along), be used for the position (for example driver's

compartment

40 or 42 of Fig. 4) of permanent driver's compartment of certain maintenance vehicle and the position that is used for the driver's compartment of having ready conditions (example as described in greater detail below only by heliostat being redirected available driver's compartment) of certain maintenance vehicle.Memory module 64 and solar energy field information module 66 can be combined in the individual module (not shown), be combined as together the part of control system 60, be integrated into the part of control system 60 or as independent compound storage-field information module individually.

Control system 60 can be identified for optional animal information 62, memory module 64 and/or solar energy field information module 66 maintenance and/or the operation standard of solar energy field 16.Can make the one or more parts that point to solar energy field 16 from the output 68 of control system 60, such as independent heliostat 12, safeguard any other parts or the system of vehicle 30 and/or solar power system.For example, output 68 can comprise instruction or the control algolithm for the heliostat of cleaning solar energy field.This control system 60 can be determined the cleaning order of heliostat or select special modality along the vehicle driver's compartment of safeguarding of appointment, for example to avoid safeguarding animal or the habitat in the vehicle driver's compartment.Can be identified for heliostat cleaning history the priority of some not yet cleaned within a predetermined period of time heliostat.

In addition or alternatively, can control the operation of heliostat its maintenance to be described or to lack by control system 60 (or based on another control system from the output of control system 60).For example, dirty heliostat can be with lower efficient in the reflection insolation of receiver 20 places.Can make other heliostats again aim to compensate the reflected flux of the minimizing that is caused by dirty heliostat.Can carry out optimization with the one or more again aimings in the clean or dirty heliostat by control system 60, thereby keep the temperature homogeneity of receiver 20.The location that the temperature that can make dirty heliostat be redirected to receiver is so crucial or different receivers are such as evaporimeter section.Control system 60 can also be controlled some heliostat 12 to compensate current other heliostats that experiencing maintenance.For example, when cleaning solar energy field a part of, heliostat in the second portion of solar energy field is aimed at again to receiver 20 sentence throughput loss during the compensation cleaning.

Control system 60 can also be controlled heliostat and reorientate to be used for cleaning.For example, can make the reflective mirror 13 of heliostat 12 redirect to the position of perpendicular to allow by safeguarding that vehicle 30 cleans.Can also occur independent heliostat 12 reflective mirror 13 redirect allow to have ready conditions driver's compartment for the certain maintenance vehicle.For example, can make the reflective mirror 13 of the heliostat 12 that basically is adjacent to the driver's compartment of having ready conditions redirect to the position of perpendicular to allow safeguarding that vehicle 30 passes through.In addition or alternatively, can control heliostat, thereby avoid any Latent destruction to the animal that is arranged in solar energy field.For example, if the animal in the solar energy field has the height that is enough to contact heliostat reflective mirror 13 for some reflective mirror orientation, then control system 60 can be controlled animal heliostat on every side to avoid those reflective mirrors orientations.

Control system 60 can also the interior operation of safeguarding vehicle 30 of controlling filed.For example, can come the speed of safeguarding vehicle 30 in the limiting field according to the threshold value that has animal or level of confidence, current in safeguarding the vehicle driver's compartment even animal is not confirmed as.If estimate only to exist less animal dis possibility, then can allow animal vehicle 30 in the specific region of the solar energy field that stands one or more constraints, to operate.This type of constraint can include but not limited to constraint of velocity, Peak Flow Rate, the noise constraints of the water during in order to the use of the water that cleans heliostat or clean solution, cleaning heliostat or clean solution and/or safeguard other operating parameters of vehicle.

With reference now to Fig. 7,, safeguards that vehicle 30 operates for example safeguard heliostat 12 by the surface of reflective mirror 13 of cleaning heliostat 12 in solar energy field 16.Safeguard that permanent driver's compartment 42 that vehicle 30 can be by radial directed and vertical permanent driver's compartment 40 are near solar energy field 16.Therefore driver's

compartment

40 and 42 is separated from each other and allows to safeguard that with the various sections of heliostat 12 vehicle 30 is near heliostat.The operation of safeguarding vehicle can depend in the specific driver's compartment 40 such as the animal of tortoise 72 or such as the position on the animal habitat ground in cave 74.Along with safeguarding that vehicle 30 advances along driver's compartment 40, if it runs into habitat 74, then its road along it turns back and attempts walking around habitat 74.For example, safeguard that vehicle 30 can be from the top near the habitat, thus can be near its heliostat that can not arrive by approaching from the bottom.When driver's compartment 40 advances, run into mobile animal 72 if safeguard vehicle 30, then can reduce cleaning speed left driver's compartment 30 before safeguarding vehicle 30 these positions of arrival to provide animal sufficient time.

Alternatively or in addition, safeguard that vehicle 30 can wait for until animal leaves driver's compartment before the passage along design advances in driver's compartment 40.Can the time in driver's compartment be determined to wait in view of being stopped up by animal or pursue the replacement passage based on the estimation animal.Can be according to species identification (for example, estimating that tortoise will spend the more time than more mobile animal in driver's compartment), time and/or the historical record speed that is used for the solar energy field of particular animal are carried out this estimation in 1 year.In the situation that estimated time amount less than predetermined threshold, then safeguard vehicle can along passage suspend until animal not in block channel.Otherwise, safeguard that vehicle can advance to avoid to stop up along replacing passage.

In another example, can control control system 60 with the prediction probability that is calculated of time period that will in passage, reach prolongation in response to animal or the operation requirements of solar column system from the situation of the flux of heliostat under and avoid cleaning some heliostat.Therefore the cleaning of heliostat can be postponed a period of time, such as several hours, several days, several week or other times section.For example time between the identification of dirty heliostat and the cleaning can be stored in the memory 64 and in response to these storage data and clean scheduling (for example in a preferential order arrangement).Because the minute surface that does not clean heliostat may be dirty, thus heliostat insolation is directed to may be so ineffective aspect the tower 18, thereby reduce system effectiveness; Yet the coexistence compromised or endangered animal species in the solar energy field can overweight this reduction of system effectiveness.

With reference now to Figure 88,, grid system 88 can be added on the part of solar energy field 16, animal 72 is confirmed as being arranged in this part.Can be As time goes on (continuously or discretely) monitor and the position of animal or animal population for example use the wireless lebal that is attached to representative animal 72 or a plurality of animals.Animal 72 can advance along the passage 80 in the solar energy field.In each time portion that equates, can record the point 86 along passage 80.The gathering of point 86 can hint that ad-hoc location is the habitat 74 for animal 72.For example, hint animal 72 in the position of the point 86 in the grid 82 will be spent its most of the time in this grid 82.Therefore grid 82 can be categorized as and have therein habitat 74, and can forbid safeguarding that vehicle 30 passes grid 82.In addition or alternatively, can specify the position, habitat by arbitrary shape 84 irrelevant with grid and that comprise many time points 86.

Alternatively or in addition, every day that can analyzing animal 72 or annual Move Mode are with the position of the position of prediction animal 72/mobile or definite habitat 74.For example, can monitor within a predetermined period of time the movement of animal (or a treated animal), such as several days, a week, one month or even some months.Based on these data, can be used as in one day in time or 1 year the function of time and predict where animal or fauna generally are positioned at.Therefore can forbid safeguarding that vehicle enters predicted position in those times.For example, tortoise may be by day early time (or the special time in a year) in the first area, spend the more time, and more near night the time (or another time in 1 year) in second area, spend the more time.Therefore can forbid safeguarding that the early time of vehicle in one day is in the situation that operate in the first area or closer to night the time or allow at least it to operate having some constraint in second area.

In an embodiment, can be near passage or the driver's compartment 90 of having ready conditions for having ready conditions of certain maintenance vehicle 30 in 16 interior can an existence of heliostat 12.The driver's compartment 90 of having ready conditions refers to when the reflective mirror 13 of the heliostat 12 that is adjacent to driver's compartment is in specific orientation only certain maintenance vehicle 30 come-at-able special modalities by solar energy field 16.For example, with reference to figure 9, between a pair of heliostat 12 of solar energy field 16, have condition driver's compartment 90.When the reflective mirror of heliostat 12 is in basic horizontal orientation 13 _HThe time, safeguard the width W of vehicle _BGreater than the width between the end of reflective mirror, thereby prevent from safeguarding that vehicle passes through along passage 90.When the reflective mirror of heliostat 12 is in perpendicular orientation 13 _vThe time, safeguard the width W of vehicle _BLess than the distance W between the heliostat supporting construction 15 _HCThereby, allow to safeguard that vehicle passes through along passage 90.

Heliostat used herein can comprise single reflective mirror (referring to for example 36) or can be with the rigid body rotation mirror assembly of one or more reflective mirrors (referring to Figure 37) of rotation in series.The mirror assembly 13 of specific heliostat 12 can have by for example orderly coordinate pair in preset time

The orientation that limits, wherein, θ _iThe expression elevation angle and

The expression azimuth.Heliostat 12 can have one or two rotary freedom, and can represent this rotation according to the elevation angle/azimuth description or in any other mode.

In order to safeguard that vehicle 30 passes through along the passage 90 of having ready conditions, and does not need reflective mirror is arranged in the position 13 of perpendicular _vOn the contrary, can with heliostat 12 with safeguard vehicle 30 design and be arranged to allow reflective mirror 13 to be in and be different from vertical angle.For example, can the width W at the place, top of vehicle 30 will be safeguarded _TWidth W with the place, bottom that safeguards vehicle 30 _BEven be designed to as shown in Figure 9 when reflective mirror 13 and vertical 13 _vWhen differently locating, allow also to safeguard that vehicle 30 passes through along passage 90.

On the contrary, the heliostat 12 in other parts of field 16 can be closely spaced apart together, even so that be arranged in the orientation 13 of perpendicular when reflective mirror 13 _vThe time, the distance W between the adjacent heliostat supporting construction 15 _HBAlso less than the width W of safeguarding vehicle _BTherefore, distance that can Shortcomings between heliostat with allow to safeguard vehicle 30 by and be orientated regardless of reflective mirror.The certain maintenance vehicle depends on the size of safeguarding vehicle 30, the size of heliostat 12, the structure of heliostat 12, the layout of heliostat 12 and/or the combination of the separating distance between the heliostat 12 in approaching between the adjacent heliostat.This type of heliostat can be called concealed heliostat, because it safeguards that vehicle 30 not directly approaches.

Figure 10-Figure 11 relates to safeguard that wherein vehicle 30 can be in the condition that also can not pass through in the zone that is taken by heliostat 12.In Figure 10-Figure 11, the center (or barycenter or supporting construction) of each heliostat is depicted as round dot, the reflective mirror 13 of heliostat is represented as rectangle, and it can rotate around this round dot, and the range of movement of the reflective mirror in the plane 13 is represented as round dot circle on every side.Figure 10-Figure 11 has been simplified and has supposed that the zone of each heliostat is continuous and is shaped as circle.This rough schematic view should be interpreted as restrictive.In addition, Figure 10-Figure 11 relates to the projection from 3d space to the 2D space, i.e. plane or birds-eye view.The feature that stops that it will be appreciated that any heliostat can be used in any mode relevant with the 3D heliostat of any shape.Therefore the mirror assembly of heliostat can have any shape, and heliostat itself can have any configuration.

Shown in the left side of Figure 10, vehicle 30 can pass solar energy field along the passage 90 of having ready conditions, and is in the distance larger than the width of vehicle 30 because be adjacent to the reflective mirror 13 of the heliostat 12 of passage 90 owing to the orientation of reflective mirror 13.Yet when reflective mirror 13 was differently directed about the group 100 of heliostat 12, passage was blocked and stops vehicle 30 by group 100, shown in the right side of Figure 10.Although it is vertical orientated to it should be noted that reflective mirror 13 in the as directed group 100 has hinted, this diagram can also be illustrated in the substantial horizontal orientation or hinder reflective mirror 13 on any other orientation of passage.

With reference now to Figure 11,, the layout of the heliostat 12 that combines with the size of safeguarding vehicle 30A can be passed the section 110 of heliostat 12 so that unconditionally stop vehicle 30A.Even vehicle 30A can pass through a pair of heliostat (that is, having enough width gaps) in end row, the obstruction owing to being caused by the heliostat in the second row also can stop vehicle further to pass the field.Especially, with heliostat between layout and the length of the vehicle 30A that combines of spacing and width prevent vehicle 30A along passage turn to avoid with the second row in the collision of heliostat.

On the contrary, safeguard that vehicle 30B is shorter than in length to safeguard vehicle 30A, but have identical width.Although prevent from safeguarding that vehicle 30A passes the field of heliostat 12 by section 110, safeguard that vehicle 30B can move along the passage 114 of having ready conditions owing to its size that reduces.It should also be noted that and to control the heliostat 12 that is adjacent to the passage 114 of having ready conditions and it is redirected with along with safeguarding vehicle 30B before passage 114 and then adapting to its turning and movement.

At last, safeguard that vehicle 30C is shorter than in length to safeguard vehicle 30A or 30B, but have identical Breadth Maximum and circular front shape.Although safeguarding vehicle 30B may pass and force redirecting of the heliostat that need to be adjacent to its passage 114 along with it, but safeguard that vehicle 30C is enough little, so that it can be maintained at the reflective mirror 13 of heliostat 12 in the consistent locational situation and to turn and move along passage 116.Therefore, the concept of concealed heliostat and/or concealed position (but contrast have ready conditions can near heliostat or the approximated position of having ready conditions) is based on layout, particularly vehicle dimension or the radius of turn of vehicle and heliostat.

In an embodiment, the island of the concealed heliostat in the solar energy field 16 can take permanent driver's compartment and/or have ready conditions can be near driver's compartment 90 as the border.For example, as shown in figure 12, a pair of vehicle 30 of safeguarding can advance along the passage 90 of having ready conditions of the circumference orientation in the solar energy field 16.According to one or more contemplated example, the passage 90 of having ready conditions can also be difform.For example, have ready conditions passage 90 can be along radial directed or tangential orientation line, along the crenellation pattern by the field, along any other pattern or combinations of patterns or even along advancing at random.Although all reflective mirrors 13 along passage 90 are shown in the position of perpendicular to allow safeguarding that vehicle 30 passes through, operate according to " instant (just-in-time) " agreement but also can imagine reflective mirror 13, therefore only be directed to the position in order to when safeguarding vehicle approach reflective mirror 13, to allow to safeguard that vehicle 30 passes through.Therefore, the major part of passage 90 may be intercepted by reflective mirror 13, and it continues the receiver in the collimation tower, until need to redirect to allow to safeguard that vehicle 30 passes through.

This same " immediately " concept can also be applied to the reflective mirror 13 that will safeguard, such as when replacing mirror assembly.In other words, concealed heliostat 12 focuses on the receiver insolation with continuing, until approach the cleaning of specific heliostat 12.The additional control of heliostat can be taken the obstruct of the heliostat sight line during the maintenance activity into account.For example, safeguard that one or more heliostats (for example using arm 36B) can not stop from requiring to safeguard or through the reflection insolation of one or more heliostats of safeguarding, make it can not arrive appointment aiming point on the target in the tower 18.Therefore, can make provisionally heliostat again aim to avoid to stop/cover by what arm 36B caused.

The position that it should also be noted that passage 90 needs not be one group of passage or regular passage (namely as shown in figure 12 concentric circles passage).On the contrary, passage 90 can be special channel and/or irregular passage.Safeguard that suitable control that vehicle 30 can enough heliostats selects its route by solar energy field 16 to allow approaching between it.Therefore, at any time, what may occur is that to safeguard that vehicle 30 itself is hidden in solar energy field 16 inner and be significantly without any specific leaving channel, but the suitable control of heliostat 12 can allow passage to open along with safeguarding vehicle 30 to move.This type of special channel can also be used to avoid solar energy field interior animal and/or its habitat.For example, can safeguard that vehicle is motor-driven around animal and/or animal habitat ground by optionally selecting to control by the special channel of heliostat.Can control heliostat along this special channel to allow safeguarding that vehicle passes through.

Heliostat 12 away from passage 90 is not that vehicle 30 can directly approach; Alternatively, middle heliostat stops directly approaching.Can cross middle heliostat 12 in order to arrive these hiding heliostats 12, be attached to the one or more arm 36B that safeguard vehicle 30.Arm 36B can comprise that the terminal 36C of one or more cleanings is side by side to clean a plurality of heliostats.Clean terminal 36C and can comprise brush or short range ejector filler or spraying apparatus, the interior operation of the distance less than 2m that it can be between equipment and minute surface.Safeguard that vehicle 30 can continue along the passage 90 of circumferentially having ready conditions, and stays the section 130 of basically clean heliostat, as shown in figure 13 at its tail.

Figure 14 illustrates from the field near the top of tower 18, the heliostat 12 namely seen near the position of receiver 20.Figure 15-Figure 21 illustrates the series of frames (frame) of the cleaning that shows the heliostat that carries out with an embodiment who safeguards vehicle 150.Especially, safeguard that vehicle 150 can advance so that the heliostat 12 in approaching 16 along the passage 90 of having ready conditions.The heliostat that is adjacent to the passage of having ready conditions is directed along the direction of perpendicular, thereby allows vehicle 150 to move along passage 90.On the contrary, the heliostat away from the passage 90 of having ready conditions cleans with permission along substantially horizontal direction orientation.

Safeguard that vehicle 150 can comprise the one or more cranes 152 with suspension rod 156, it can reach in the heliostat field away from the passage 90 of having ready conditions.The cleaning equipment of roll-type cleaning equipment 154 or any other type can be supported by suspension rod 156 in order to provide with direct contact of reflective mirror 13 (referring to Figure 18-Figure 19).Can temporarily mesh one or more ground supports bodies 158 of safeguarding on the vehicle 150 and safeguard vehicle 150 during clean operation, to support.

In an embodiment, heliostat density and/or arrange not to be that to spread all over solar energy field 16 be consistent.On the contrary, heliostat density can become according to the position in the solar energy field 16.For example, the heliostat density of being measured by the heliostat at per unit angle is compared with the inside of field 16 and can be increased towards outward flange (namely away from tower 18).Increase to 1.2,1.5,2,3 or 5 times between the interior section that heliostat density can on the

scene

16 and 16 the exterior section.

The heliostat density that is used for the regions/areas section of solar energy field is that the number of the interior different heliostats in the zone (or subregion) on land is divided by the area of the regions/areas section on land.The regions/areas section on land can be any shape, includes but not limited to rectangle, wedge shape, annular, triangle or any other shape.Should be appreciated that in single solar energy field, some zone can have some subregion of larger heliostat density and have other subregions of low heliostat density.For example, closer to given tower with larger heliostat density and to dispose heliostat further from one or more towers with low heliostat density may be favourable.

In another example, can think therein heliostat compare with the heliostat in other zones so efficient (namely since for example cosine loss or geographical the obstruction and each heliostat guides less insolation) the zone in larger density deployment heliostat.The zone of " so not efficient " therefore can have more heliostat is directed to receiver from the zone of " so not efficient " with increase with the efficient of compensation reduction insolation amount.Can select heliostat density (or the number of heliostat, average reflector size or add up to reflector size with the time in time in one or more one day and/or one or more 1 year substantially the same insolation total amount to be directed to the receiver place in the zone of the zone of " so not efficient " and " more efficient ".In certain embodiments, can by with the number that increases heliostat density, average reflector size or add up to reflector size on the contrary or the size of expansion field increases the heliostat in the zone of solar energy field in combination.This type of even Flux Distribution or uniform temperature distribution aspect that is configured in the receiver that realize to be used for solar column may be favourable.The system and method for the position for determining the heliostat in the solar energy field disclosed herein can manage to realize to distribute for this type of even Flux Distribution and/or the uniform temperature of the receiver of solar column.

Although be not clear and definite requirement, but any embodiment described herein can be with reference to " single tower " system, wherein, be associated with tower 18 and/or be configured to make insolation to be redirected to tower 18 or its a part of heliostat 12 only makes insolation be redirected to single tower 18 basically, even a more than tower 18 is positioned at place, given solar power system place.This feature can be applied to any heliostat or heliostat group (for example a north heliostat and/or a south heliostat and/or a west heliostat and/or an east heliostat).In certain embodiments, insolation is not redirected to other towers from the heliostat that is associated with single tower 18.

Within a period of time (for example at least 1 week, at least 1 month, at least 3 months, at least 6 months, at least 9 months, at least 1 year, at least 2 years or at least 3 years), can be in fact with so that insolation is redirected to that the heliostat 12 of solar column 18 or heliostat assembly are set to by heliostat 12, all insolations of altering course by each heliostat 12 of group or by whole group less than 30%, less than 20%, less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 3% or point to other towers 18 rather than specify solar column 18 less than 1%.

Any embodiment disclosed herein can with reference to " multitower " system, wherein, can make the heliostat in the solar energy field that is associated with the first tower redirect insolation to be directed to the second tower place.Especially, in certain embodiments, can alternatively make the uniformity target (being uniform temperature or the even flux on the receiver surface) that is used for one or more receivers of tower from the different tower of the heliostat aiming of solar energy field with realization.Time in time and/or some 1 year in some one day, may so efficient (for example because the cosine losses) with one or more in the heliostat that the first tower is associated, if be not resolved, this may cause flux/non-uniform temperature.For fear of this type of situation, can make the heliostat from the second solar column again aim at (for example, by heliostat control system or system user) so not efficient heliostat to help compensation to be associated with the first solar column.In some cases, can think again aimed to the heliostat of the first solar column be the heliostat of " more efficient " for the second solar column.Therefore, the heliostat of some " more efficient " is aimed at again and the heliostat that becomes " so not efficient " to realize the uniformity target.

Term efficiently refer to the size of the independent heliostat of seeing from tower on how much and/or specific one day/year the time by the ratio between the physical size of the insolation amount of independent heliostat reflection and heliostat.Therefore, when look down at the top of the tower on the solar energy field that is positioned at the Northern Hemisphere, southern heliostat that may be owing to the cosine effect seems northern heliostat less than equivalent size and identical location.Term refers to when in the situation that do not have other heliostats in the field at the place, top of tower or near the size of the heliostat that will appear when seeing from target it at the independent heliostat efficiency parameters of the heliostat of a position deploy.The independent heliostat efficiency parameters of term can use interchangeably with the geometrical efficiency of heliostat.

Distance between tower and the heliostat relates to the distance between the position of the barycenter of tower at ground level place and heliostat.The position of heliostat is defined as the downward projection of ground level of heliostat barycenter.Distance between two heliostats is its separately Descartes's distance between the position.The size of heliostat or the area of heliostat are the areas of all reflective mirrors of its reflective mirror array.Some heliostat can comprise example single reflective mirror 13 as shown in Figure 36.For these single reflective mirror heliostats, the size of heliostat is the area of single reflective mirror.A plurality of reflective mirror heliostats can have one or more heliostat motor so that reflective mirror in series rotates to follow the sun.For example, many reflective mirrors heliostat can comprise a pair of

reflective mirror

13A, 13B, as shown in figure 37.For these many reflective mirrors heliostats, size be for the reflective mirror area of all reflective mirrors of heliostat and.

Table 1: the example of heliostat size

Be used for being deployed in land the regions/areas section heliostat total reflector size or add up to reflector size be in the regions/areas section/sub-segments on land all heliostats (i.e. the total area of all reflective mirrors, wherein each heliostat carrying has the mirror assembly of one or more reflective mirrors) total/add up to size.Various heliostats in this land can comprise the reflective mirror of any number in mirror assembly.Can also calculate for total reflective mirror density of the heliostat of the regions/areas section that is deployed in land or add up to reflective mirror density as total reflector size or add up to ratio between the area of reflector size and land area or subregion.The measurement unit that is used for heliostat density is the heliostat number of per unit area, for example every m ²Heliostat.On the other hand, reflective mirror density is normally dimensionless, for example as the reflective mirror area of per unit land surface.Basic orientation refers to positive north, due east, due south and Zheng Xi (according to any order).The time that is called at dusk can be after local solartime 1PM, 2PM after or any time after the 3PM, simultaneously its can at sunset, 15 minutes before sunset, 30 minutes before sunset, 60 minutes before sunset, before sunset 90 minutes or even before sunset end in 2 hours.

Place, the top of solar column or near the position it can the top be in tower height at the most 25%, the height of tower at the most 20%, the height of tower at the most 15%, the height of tower at the most 10%, the height of tower at the most 15% or at the most 5% the tolerance of the height of tower in.Toppling over (non-dumping) time period with respect to place, the top of tower or near the one or more targets it non-is that the flux that is incident on thus on the target is at the most 95%, at the most 90%, at the most 85% or at the most 80% the time period that is incident on the peaking flux on the target.This peaking flux can be for given one day as every day peaking flux, for for given month as peaking flux per month or for the given time as annual peaking flux.Usually, this non-dumping time section is not at night or without insolation or extremely low insolation time period.During non-dumping time section, the amount of flux can be at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50% or at least 60% of the top place that is incident on tower or the peaking flux near the target it.For example, non-dumping time section can be in the morning, afternoon and/or winter occur.Yet this is not restriction, and can depend on one or more physical parameters of solar power system.

When coming reference side's grid with respect to disclosed embodiment, if foursquare turning is mesh point, the square grid in the square is aimed at the turning.The mesh parameter of the distance side of the being grid between the horizontal and vertical proximity network lattice point.Have mesh parameter around the x% side's grid in the square, its length is the x% around the length on foursquare limit.For example, with by point { (x ₁, y ₁, (x ₁, y ₂), (x ₂, y ₁) and (x ₂, y ₂) given 1% side's grid around foursquare turning aligning will be at { (x ₁, y ₁), (x ₁+ 0.01* (x ₂-x ₁), y ₁), (x ₁+ 0.02* (x ₂-x ₁), y ₁) .... (x ₁+ 0.99* (x ₂-x ₁), y ₁), (x ₂, y ₁), (x ₁, y ₁+ 0.01* (y ₂-y ₁)), (x ₁+ 0.01* (x ₂-x ₁), y ₁+ 0.01* (y ₂-y ₁)), etc. locate to have mesh point,

Figure 22 is the schematic diagram that expression has the solar energy field of heliostat 12, and each heliostat 12 is configured to follow the sun and makes insolation be redirected to central tower 18.For example, this solar energy field can comprise above 50,000 heliostats, although according to one or more contemplated example, the heliostat of other numbers can also be arranged.Solar energy field 16 can comprise one or more radial directed driver's compartments 42.Circumferential orientation driver's compartment 40 can demarcate the exterior section 220 of heliostat 12 and interior section 222 close to the heliostat 12 of tower 18.Figure 23 shows the close-up illustration of a part of 16, its show especially heliostat 12 in interior section 222 have from part 220 externally in those different layouts.Mark on the axle among Figure 23 represents the distance (take rice as unit) with tower 18.

Figure 24 identification is used for 24 diverse locations of the solar energy field 16 of hereinafter with reference heliostat density discussion.Each position can be 100m for example ²Can arrange three position L along northwards direction basically among the northern section 220N on the scene ₁-L ₃For example can arrange three position L along the direction of northwest basically among the west section 220W on the scene ₄-L ₆Can arrange three position L along westwards direction basically among the west section 220W on the scene ₇-L ₉For example partly among the west section 220W on the scene and partly can arrange three position L along the direction in southwest basically among the southern section 220S on the scene ₁₀-L ₁₂For example can arrange three position L along direction basically to the south among the southern section 220S on the scene ₁₃-L ₁₅For example can arrange three position L along the direction of the southeast basically among the east section 220E on the scene ₁₆-L ₁₈For example can arrange three position L along eastwards direction basically among the east section 220E on the scene ₁₉-L ₂₁For example can arrange three position L along northeastward basically among the east section 220E on the scene ₂₂-L ₂₄

Be used for close to tower each position, be L ₁, L ₄, L ₇, L ₁₀, L ₁₃, L ₁₆, L ₁₉And L ₂₂The center can with the tower 18 about distance of 350m for example.Be used for apart from farthest each position of tower, be L ₃, L ₆, L ₉, L ₁₂, L ₁₅, L ₁₈, L ₂₁And L ₂₄The center can with for example about distance of 750m of tower 18.Be used for each other position, be L ₂, L ₅, L ₈, L ₁₁, L ₁₄, L ₁₇, L ₂₀And L ₂₃The center can with for example about distance of 550m of tower 18.

Following table 2 shows the heliostat density value for the diverse location of identifying at Figure 24.The density value of listing in table 2 illustrates and the heliostat density in the different quadrants of field or the part can be designed to change, though the position otherwise with tower be equidistant.In addition, be used for the heliostat density ratio of the position of similarly locating with respect to tower can be for example as changing with the function of the distance of tower.For example, north and south heliostat density ratio can be along with increasing with the distance of tower.

In order to illustrate position L ₁₃And L ₁Being illustrated in south the 220S at same distance place is different with density among the northern section 220N.Can define the north and south density ratio for the position of in southern section 220S and northern section 220N, similarly locating with respect to tower 18.Especially, for L ₁₃And L ₁; The north and south density ratio is 2.32/2.09=1.11.With L ₁₄Value and L ₂The north and south density ratio that value is compared and obtained 2/1.66=1.2.With L ₁₅Value and L ₃The north and south density ratio that value is compared and obtained 1.62/1.25=1.3.Therefore, by the distance of increase with tower 18, the north and south density ratio between the same position (namely in the distance that equates with tower 18) of arranging can increase.

Table 2: the density of the heliostat at the diverse location place in the solar energy field

Heliostat density in the south part of solar energy field can be above the heliostat density in the north part of solar energy field.Can be applicable on the Northern Hemisphere solar energy field at the embodiment described in Figure 22-Figure 24 and the table 2.In the Southern Hemisphere, this result will be opposite.In other words, in the Southern Hemisphere, the heliostat density in the north part of solar energy field will be above the heliostat density in the south part of solar energy field.

On the Northern Hemisphere, southern heliostat may trend towards being weaker than owing to the cosine effect the northern homologue of its same location.On the contrary, in the Southern Hemisphere, northern heliostat may trend towards being weaker than owing to the cosine effect the southern homologue of its same location.Then (with respect to the zone with stronger heliostat) disposes heliostat with the density that increases in order to provide additional insolation albedo with compensation or to compensate at least in part this weakness may be favourable in the zone with weak heliostat.When receiver has the north of substantially the same size and when in the south, the heliostat density of the increase in the south part of solar energy field (namely on how much so efficiently zone) can help to realize that the lip-deep more uniform heat flux of receiver or uniform temperature distribute.In addition or alternatively, weak heliostat can comprise larger reflective mirror.

In addition, can also define the thing density ratio.In order to illustrate position L ₇And L ₁₉Being illustrated in the west section 220W at same distance place is different with density among the section 220E of east.Can define the thing density ratio for the position of in west section 220W and east section 220E, similarly locating with respect to tower 18.Especially, for L ₇And L ₁₉, the north and south density ratio is 2.14/2.08=1.03.With L ₈Value and L ₂₀The north and south density ratio that value is compared and obtained 1.88/1.75=1.05.With L ₉Value and L ₂₁The north and south density ratio that value is compared and obtained 1.52/1.4=1.08.Therefore, by the distance of increase with tower 18, the thing density ratio between the same position (namely in the distance that equates with tower 18) of arranging can increase.

Heliostat density among the western part 220W of solar energy field can surpass the heliostat density among the east part 220E of solar energy field.The electricity charge that are used for electricity can be greater than the electricity charge of the electricity that is used for the period in the afternoon the period in the morning.Therefore, can make heliostat for example described herein the placement optimization so that afternoon power generation and/or to the afternoon insolation maximization of tower 18 so as in the afternoon during several hours the receiver in tower 18 realize insolation or the flux of aspiration level, this can be used for making income or income/field cost function maximization or at least increase.This type of income/field cost function can be taken the density of heliostat or total size or the reflective mirror density of number and/or reflective mirror into account, for example with the income that catches each heliostat or reflective mirror capital cost certain than or other functions.The placement optimization that for example, can make heliostat is to obtain basically uniformly insolation on all flux receiving surfaces of receiver around during several hours in the afternoon.In another example, can make the placement optimization of heliostat so that be incident in the face of insolation amount or flux maximization on the receiver surface in the solar energy field zone that has in the afternoon poor efficiency heliostat during several hours or increase at least.Afternoon power generation maximization and/or realize that at receiver even insolation/flux can be take power generation and/or realize even insolation/flux as cost at receiver to the insolation in morning of tower and/or in the morning in morning to the maximization of the insolation in afternoon of tower and/or in the afternoon because can be deployed in the sum of the heliostat in the solar energy field and/or the total amount of reflective mirror area may be that fix and/or affined.

When design has the solar energy field of the preferential generation that is used for power in afternoon of a limited number of heliostat (for example because budget or geographic constraint), arrange in the western part that can be on the scene than the east part heliostat of big figure more.Even the west section in heliostat compare with the heliostat of same location in the east section on the scene at tower and receive aspect the amount of insolation on an average weak (namely so not efficient on how much), improve the standard for generation afternoon electric power purpose, this heliostat arrange also can be preferably these west heliostats a little less than.

In order to design solar energy field, can set up cost function, the sum of the heliostat that its constraint can be disposed at least and/or total reflective mirror area in the solar energy field of the part that is included in two basic orientation (for example north and south, thing).Can require solar energy field to have the power generation and/or to the total insolation reflection of the raising of the target that is associated with solar column, even take morning power generation and/or the insolation changed course in morning from heliostat to the solar column target as cost in afternoon of raising.In response to this cost function, can design and specify the heliostat layout of disposing, wherein, in the part on the scene than along there being more heliostat (or larger heliostat density or larger average reflector size or larger total reflector size) in the part of the field of opposite basic orientation, for example, the northern part of the same orientation of heliostat contrast of the more big figure in the south part of field.Alternatively or in addition, can design solar energy field with this cost function, wherein, in the west section on the scene than dispose more multiple heliostats in the section in the Orient and/or in the section of west than disposing with larger density in the section in the Orient.This deployment can according to any scheme and/or feature, include but not limited to any combination of scheme disclosed herein and/or feature.

Figure 25 represents wherein to have disposed the zone of the solar energy field of heliostat.A part of solar energy field can be northern square area 252.Another part of solar energy field can be southern square area 254, and it is the mirror image of striding the zone, the north 252 of the east axle centered by tower 28 basically.Both aim at basic orientation can to make north zone 252 and zone, south 254, and namely two perpendicular edge among the figure are parallel to North and South direction, and two horizontal sides among the figure are parallel to east-west direction.Both can have substantially the same thing skew north zone 252 and zone, south 254, namely from the north and south axle displacement centered by tower 18.For zone, south 252, between the vector 259 at the center 256 in zone, the north 252, can there be the angle of deviation 257 at the center from tower 18.For southern zone 254, can between the vector (not shown) at the center 258 in zone, south 254, define similar angle of deviation (not shown) at the center from tower 18.Because zone, the north 252 and zone, south 254 are mutual north and south mirror images, so its angle of deviation 257 must be identical.

In Figure 26-Figure 27, illustrate the concept of north and south and thing mirror image.For the north and south mirror image in the zone on land, the thing angle of deviation 267 for two zones on land, for example be identical for zone 262 and the mirror image 264 thereof.For the thing mirror image in the zone on land, the north and south angle of deviation 277 for two zones on land, for example be identical for zone 272 and the mirror image 278 thereof.Such as Figure 28-shown in Figure 29, can check a plurality of subregion 283A-D, 287A-D, it can also can not be (referring to the 293A-B among Figure 29 and 297A-B) separately, is completely contained in zone, the north 282 or the zone, south 284.For example, can by the little square with center 285A define in the northern square area 282 than boy zone 283A.

As shown in figure 30, for zone 302 remains in larger regional 300 fully, on 302 positions that can only be positioned at by its scope definition, zone.The track 306 of the point of the moving range 308 of little square 302 in larger square 300 in the larger square is as the boundary, and wherein, the center 304 in zone can be located so that zone 302 remains in larger square 300 fully.One group of possible position at this little foursquare center 304 of scope 308 expressions.

Following paragraph is applicable to the tower-heliostat system based on the Northern Hemisphere, wherein, the sum of the southern heliostat of tower (or total reflector size of all heliostats) is above the sum (or total reflector size of all heliostats) of the heliostat in the north of tower.For the system based on the Southern Hemisphere, the sum of the southern heliostat of tower (or total reflector size of all heliostats) will be above the sum (or total reflector size of all heliostats) of the heliostat in the north of tower.Therefore can be by the north and southern narration be exchanged to illustrate that this feature is applied to Southern Hemisphere embodiment with following description.

With reference to Figure 28, carry out first between the number of the heliostat in the north and south mirror image 287A of the little square 283A in the number of the heliostat in the regional 283A in the time of can be interior in zone, the north 282 in the position of regional 283A and/or the total reflector size of all heliostats and the zone, south 284 and/or the total reflector size of all heliostats and compare.Can carry out additional comparison the, for example 283B and 287B, 283C and 287C and 283D and 287D for the different mirror area in the north and the southern zone 282,284.The ratio of the total reflector size of all heliostats among the ratio of the sum of the heliostat among each sum that relatively can relate to the heliostat among for example little square 283A and the little square 287A in south and/or the total reflector size of all heliostats in the little square 283A and the little square 287A in south.

As shown in figure 29, can first relatively relate to regional 293A, 297A and after a while relatively relate to regional 293B, 297B the time carry out this relatively, wherein, regional 293A, 293B (with 297A, 297B therefore) are overlapped.With reference to Figure 30, can also make zone 302 spread all over its gamut 308 and slide, for example by zone 302 being moved minimum amount to cover gamut, so that each point of scope 308 by center 304 access in zone 302 only once.Can be positioned at each point of scope 308 wherein for 302 center 304, zone, for example in south regional 294, the north and south mirror position at the center 304 of domain of the existence 302.

For each accessed position at the center 304 in the zone 302 in the scope 308, another of the sum of the heliostat in the sum of the heliostat in the northern version in zone 302 and/or the southern version of total reflector size contrast district 302 and/or total reflector size relatively.This can for large in the scope 308 or even the position of infinitely-great number carry out.Therefore, can carry out many comparisons.In certain embodiments, can when moving, the center 304 in zone 302 carry out relatively.Alternatively or in addition, can make the center 304 in zone 302 be confined to equal the size of scope 308, namely by 5%, 0.1% or 0.01% movement of the length on the foursquare limit of scope 308 definition.

Based on this displacement, one group (for example one organizing greatly) between the northern subregion according to the position in the scope 308 open to discussion and its southern mirror image homologue compares one by one.For this group relatively, the great majority in this group relatively can show one or more in the following characteristics: the number of the heliostat in (1) northern subregion and the southern subregion is at least 2,3,5 or 10 heliostats or 12,10,7,5 or 3 heliostats at the most; (2) south zone, for example the sum of the heliostat among the regional 287A and zone, the north, for example the ratio between the sum of the heliostat among the regional 283A is at least 1.01,1.02,1.03,1.04,1.05,1.06,1.07,1.08,1.09,1.1,1.12,1.14,1.16,1.17,1.18,1.19 or 1.2; And (3) south zone, for example the sum of the heliostat among the regional 287A total size and zone, the north, for example contrast between the total size of the sum of the heliostat among the regional 283A and be at least 1.01,1.02,1.03,104,1.05,1.06,1.07,1.08,1.09,1.1,1.12,1.14,1.16,1.17,1.18,1.19 or 1.2.For example, in Figure 28, single relatively can comparison domain 283A and 287A in the sum of heliostat or the total reflector size of all heliostats, second relatively can be between regional 283B and 287B, the 3rd relatively can be between regional 283C and 287C, and the 4th relatively can be between regional 283D and 287D.

Can be for the given position defined parameters α in the solar energy field.Especially, α can define the ratio between the height of distance from given position to tower and the target central tower or the tower.So position farther apart from tower with those the large value representations of comparing with smaller value.For example, for large-sized solar field (namely greater than 50000 heliostats) and the about tower height degree between 130m and the 140m, when the distance from the ad-hoc location to the tower was 550m, then α can be approximately 3.9 and approximately between 4.25.In an embodiment, majority, the great majority in north zone 252 and zone, corresponding south 254 or all can have α above 2.0,2.5,2.7,3,3.25,3.5,3.75,4,4.25,4.5,4.75,5,6,7,8,9 or 10.

Figure 31-32 illustrates the variation of the density in the zones of different.Figure 31 represents the number of the heliostat in the field, the north, and Figure 32 represents the number of the heliostat in the field, south.Each heliostat has the distance to the arest neighbors heliostat of an indication interior relative density.In Figure 31-Figure 32, described to be used for the number of the heliostat of each nearest neighbor distance (take rice as unit).As should be apparent from Figure 31-Figure 32, there are differences between the heliostat layout in field, the north and field, south.

In an embodiment, can provide in single geographical location a plurality of single tower solar energy field of common location, as shown in figure 33.Four tower 18A-18D of the solar energy field 330A-330D that has separately for example, can be provided.In an embodiment, each 330A-330D is associated with its tower 18A-18D.Heliostat in each only can be configured to make insolation be redirected to its tower separately, the heliostat among the 330A will be configured to only make insolation to be redirected to tower 18A on the spot.Among field 330C, the 330C the most southern regional 332,334 can be in the south of all tower 18A-18D, by line 336 definition.Various principle described herein can be applied to the combination of any 330A-330D or field.Figure 34-Figure 35 illustrates other configurations for the common location of tower and solar energy heliostat field.In the example of Figure 35, think some part 352,354 for the specific solar energy field 350C of delegation, 350D, 350F southernmost.In an embodiment, from the zone of any heliostat or heliostat to its separately tower distance and from any heliostat or heliostat field to tower another distance ratio can be less than 0.9,0.7,0.5,0.3,0.2,0.1 or 0.05.

The insolation that in an embodiment, the heliostat among one or more in the field can be configured to alternatively to guide different towers place is with compensation so efficient heliostat.For example, the tower 18A among Figure 33 can " use " some heliostat (i.e. more efficient heliostat) the south part of 330C with the heliostat in the south part of compensating field 330A (namely so efficiently heliostat) from tower 18C.Therefore can with the heliostat used from the north part of field 330C from respect to (namely tower 18C the north) for the tower 18C on how much more efficiently orientation convert for tower 18A (namely tower 18A south) so efficient orientation on how much to, yet, the heliostat number of the increase of the south of sensing tower 18A can be used for the efficient of the south reduction partly of compensating field 330A now, and can be used for promote the uniformity condition of receiver, at least when the receiver among the tower 18A has the north of substantially the same size and the south.

The point schematic diagram of solar energy field is the in proportion figure that describes the heliostat layout in the solar energy field, thus, represents independent heliostat with single round dot, and each lays respectively at each heliostat position (referring to for example Figure 41-49).Although some some schematic diagram usually comprises virtual link line or arc (it describes arc or the line of having disposed in the above heliostat), does not have such requirement.In the some schematic diagram of some prior art solar energy field, most of or all heliostats in the non local zone of solar energy field normally according to orderly arc layout patterns (referring to for example Figure 38's-Figure 39) arrange.In other prior art examples, can retrain the layout of heliostat, so that on the straight line of sizable non local part of passing solar energy field, dispose at regular intervals heliostat.In both cases, the heliostat in the prior art systems is by with regular interval parts administration on line or on arc/curve.

Figure 38-Figure 39 relates to the layout patterns of highly constrained and/or high-sequential, particularly is restrained to the layout of the heliostat of the line that passes solar energy field or the deployment on the arc.On the contrary, the embodiment of solar energy field disclosed herein comprise wherein in the situation that be not constrained in any certain line or arc (namely be not used to specify the zone and/or the overall geometrical constraint that separates on border) make heliostat dispose the zone of optimized solar energy field.Therefore when see the some schematic diagram of open solar energy field with larger ratio the time (opposite with the little localized areas in sizable zone of only considering the heliostat layout), may there be recognizable remarkable line pattern or remarkable arc pattern the large non local distance of solar energy field is interior.

In an embodiment, can arrange heliostat to promote to be mapped to day such as the mode of the more high efficiency conversion of the useful energy form of steam, electricity or biomass.Can by so that be constrained in the deployment that does not make heliostat the mode of arranging these farther heliostats in the situation of certain line or arc dispose relatively further from tower some, most of or basically all heliostats make the efficiency optimization of solar column system.Adopt one or more optimization routine (namely by loosening this type of constraint and passing through, wherein this routine can be enjoyed the more free degree in sizable zone of solar energy field, but not necessarily whole), the efficient that can improve than more orderly placement scheme realization.

The efficient of solar energy field can relate to overall strength or the amount as the insolation of the receiver in the sensing tower of the function of capital investment cost.For example, can be used as total albedo and measure to measure efficient divided by certain of the gross area of the reflective mirror of heliostat.In addition, the solar energy field that obtains from optimization may be because the shortage of the predefine passage by heliostat field and more be difficult to keep.The use of the driver's compartment of having ready conditions in the zone of solar energy field can be in not having these zones line or arc constraint, allow to safeguard that vehicle accesses the optimization that allows a layout in the situation of the heliostat in these zones simultaneously.

Heliostat in not making one or more zones of solar energy field is disposed and is constrained in the situation of certain line or arc, and the layout that obtains from extensive optimization routine can show one or more the following characteristics:

(1) when a some schematic diagram of watching (or quite a few), the heliostat in the perimeter of solar energy field not necessarily is deployed on global lines layout and/or the overall arc layout (or its combination).For example, the perimeter of the field of heliostat can be at least 2 times, 2.5 times, 3 times, 3.5 times or 4 times distance being the height of tower.

(2) even total layout patterns of perimeter is not constrained in global lines or arc pattern, the requirement that does not also exist heliostat must avoid local pattern to dispose.Alternatively, can observe the localization pattern of some.For example, can exist certain localization of heliostat to interrupt crenellation pattern, wherein, have the many heliostat zigzag clusters that are interrupted each other and spread all over whole deployment.

In an embodiment, can comprise global optimization, meta-heuristic and/or other computing techniques for the method for calculating the heliostat layout.This type of calculating of heliostat layout can take heliostat layout wherein there is no on the non local zone with the field in order or the mode of arc/constraint (namely being not limited to the deployment on line or the arc) that line domination pattern is associated.The heliostat layout that can come characterization result to obtain with relatively high heliostat field insolation changed course efficiency parameters.Optimization can cover based on the ground that the target from solar column (or top) that makes in one or more one day time and/or the time is realized by the heliostat in one or more parts of solar energy field in one or more a year is seen or maximization is sheltered on ground.

Figure 38-Figure 39 represents first (" field 1 ") in order layout 380,390, and wherein, heliostat 12 is deployed on the central tower concentric circles 382 on every side and/or on the RADIAL 384 of tower place initiation.Figure 40-Figure 41 is illustrated in arranging second of heliostat in the each several part of the field that has been optimised in the situation that is not constrained in certain line or arc (" 2 ").With respect to second among first of Figure 38-Figure 39 (1) and Figure 40-Figure 41 (2) both, in order only to illustrate the heliostat of wired number for the purpose of clear; Yet the practical embodiments of solar energy field can comprise and for example is deployed in approximately 4km ²Area in surpass 50000 heliostats.This heliostat can be of similar shape, size and the height.Two fields all take lead to tower 18 four radially sidewalk 42 as feature, for example, as shown in figure 42.

Figure 42-Figure 49 illustrates the optimization of appear on the scene 1 arc constrained layout (being Figure 42, Figure 44, Figure 46 and Figure 48) and field 2 without the contrast between the constrained layout (being Figure 43, Figure 45, Figure 47 and Figure 49).Especially, Figure 43 represents the northeast part 400NE of field, and Figure 45 represents the Counties of North-west Five 400NW of field, and Figure 47 represents the southeast part 400SE of field, and Figure 49 represents the southwestern part 400SW of field.

In on the scene 2, the difference have layout close to the heliostat (for example in middle section 402) of tower 10 and between away from the heliostat of tower 17 (for example externally zone 400 in) aspect.Heliostat far away (externally zone 400 in) can be defined as the heliostat with the ratio between the height that is at least 2,2.5,3,3.5,4,4.5,5,7.5 or 10 tower-heliostat distance and tower.In middle section 402, can arrange heliostat (for example being constrained in line or arc) with more orderly, relatively intensive layout, simultaneously can be in the deployment optimization that does not make the heliostat in the perimeter 400 in the situation of any constraint of line or arc.

Can dispose the multizone scheme, wherein, for for the zone of tower 18, for example heliostat is disposed with certain regular grid pattern in zone 402.(packing) pattern of packing into of this regular grid pattern or other types can improve heliostat packs into and/or makes its maximization, even with too much heliostat or too much add up to the reflective mirror area to make every reflective mirror product metric maximum turn to cost.In these closed areas, significant heliostat layout patterns can be very orderly lattice, enters pattern such as network of triangle grid pattern or hexagon closely packed.For for the zone of tower 18, for example the zone 400, wherein heliostat is away from tower 18, in the situation of the placement scheme of not considering specific pattern or expectation, deployment is optimised.In an embodiment, can for from the top of tower or near the position it (or on any other ground position) ground coverage of seeing and by do not require heliostat on line or the regular arc/curve dispose (thereby or by require on line or the arc the heliostat layout but and further constrained layout require the layout of the most of heliostats that are in regular interval on line or the arc) make heliostat layout optimization.Cover on the ground that this type of optimization can cause the relatively high-caliber reflective mirror for given heliostat density and/or reflective mirror density to cause.This relatively high-caliber ground covering that is realized by the heliostat of the one or more positions in the solar energy field can be used for promoting that solar radiation is useful to more efficiently changing of useful energy.

Below with reference to Figure 50-Figure 52 the concept that ground covers (or cover on ground) is discussed.When mentioning ground covering (or cover on ground or shelter on ground or ground stops) at this, it is about the height in solar column, for example sees solar energy field at this top of tower or near the position it.When certain when zone of guarding the threshing floor from specific viewing location 500, for example from the top of solar column 18 or near the receiver it 20 (or other targets), some part on ground will be visible from viewing location 500, cover and other parts on ground will be intended to insolation is directed to the reflective mirror 13 of the heliostat 12 at receiver 20 places.Viewing location 500 can corresponding to heliostat 12 when following the sun to its reflection insolation target 20 on position (being the aiming point on target or the receiver 20).When the localized area of solar energy field has the heliostat of greater number and/or have heliostat than other large reflective mirror areas in zone of solar energy field, the situation that this ground that may cause this localized area wherein to have higher degree covers.

Except heliostat density and/or reflective mirror density, the ground of specific region that is used for wherein having disposed the solar energy field of heliostat covers can depend on many additive factors, includes but not limited to: the time in time and/or 1 year in (1) one day; (2) geographical position of solar energy field; (3) analyzing the actual heliostat layout (geometry of heliostat for example is such as the distance between the heliostat, the angle of vector that connects heliostat or any other aspect of heliostat layout) of the part of the solar energy field that its ground covers; (4) size of each heliostat, shape or height; (5) height of tower (or its height and position can be also can not be the height of the viewing location that overlaps with the position of solar energy target such as receiver 20); And the distance of (6) this part (namely determining or analyzing the part of its ground covering) from the solar column to the solar energy field.

In an embodiment, can analyze ground for the one or more positions of time in time and/or 1 year in one or more one day in solar energy field covers.For example, can analyze one or more heliostat layouts and also cover to distribute mark according to the ground that is provided by the heliostat layout.Viewing location can be the position of solar column place or near the solar energy target it.Can distribute mark according to the time in selected one day or in 1 year or according to certain time average or time-weighted average.Alternatively or in addition, can cover to calculate mark by a plurality of locational ground of analyzing in the solar energy field.For the heliostat of the given number in the given area that will be deployed in land and/or the heliostat reflective mirror of intended size, can there be many potential heliostat layouts.When heliostat was not confined to deployment on line or the regular arc/curve, the number of potential heliostat layout in fact can be sizable.In these potential heliostat layouts each can cover from different ground the Fractional correlation connection.

Embodiment described herein can relate to the technology for generation of the solar energy field layout of the position of describing at least some heliostat in the central tower solar thermal power plants.The search that can carry out the space of heliostat configuration covers or covers from ground other parameters of derivation to analyze ground.Corresponding to may heliostat the search volume in space of placement scheme can be sizable.As attempt adopting substituting of rough power technology, Global Optimization Algorithm For Analysis can make at least 50,100,500,1000 or 5000 position optimization in the heliostat in the field.For example, can be identified for the deployed position (that is, having heliostat greater than at least twice of tower height degree to the tower distance) of the heliostat in the perimeter of solar energy field and not make this deployment be constrained in certain line or arc with Global Optimization Algorithm For Analysis.

Can adopt the optimization instrument to obtain the approximation to the overall optimum value of certain portions that given ground for the large search space of heliostat layout covers derivative function or is used for heliostat field.The optimization instrument can include but not limited to the overall situation or Local Search random/probability instrument, meta-heuristic algorithm, simulated annealing, mountain-climbing algorithm, genetic algorithm, dynamic programming and/or ant group algorithm.Ground covers time average total ground covering that derivative function can comprise the zone that spreads all over field or field.This time fifty-fifty the face coverage function can be preferentially to select some months and/or the weighting function of the larger ground coverage in several hours at dusk in summer as cost in several days in time and/or other year in other day.

In an embodiment, be used for determining that the method for solar energy field layout can comprise one or more parts of at first selecting for the solar energy field of heliostat placement.Can determine the position for one group of heliostat, such as the heliostat in the larger zone of solar energy field, this type of zone forms at least 50%, 70%, 80% or 90% of solar energy field.Use one or more Techniques of Optimum, can generate the field placement scheme for the selected portion of solar energy field.Subsequently, can heliostat be installed in the solar energy field according to the placement scheme that generates.

The generation of placement scheme can be so that from the top of tower or cover can be by optimization at least partly near the ground covering that is realized by heliostat seen of the position it or ground.Ground covers/covers can only be that heliostat in the zone in the solar energy field makes insolation be redirected near the tolerance of total capacity at the top (or top) of solar column.Can also use other tolerance.In addition or alternatively, one or more non local zone for solar energy field, such as relatively away from the zone of the solar energy field of tower, when the placement scheme optimization of the one or more parts that are used in solar energy field, can be in the situation that be constrained in any certain line or arc is determined placement scheme.

Figure 50-Figure 52 can relate to the west heliostat in the west that is positioned at tower 10 and viewing location/impact point 500, although can obtain similar reasoning for the heliostat in other sections of solar energy field.With reference now to Figure 50,, because heliostat 12 is followed the sun insolation 14 being reflexed to the impact point 500 on the receiver 20, so the orientation of the reflective mirror 13 of heliostat 12 (for example elevation angle and/or azimuth) all changes on whole daytime, from the orientation 13 in morning _MOOrientation 13 to afternoon _AF

From viewing location 500, the existence of the reflective mirror 13 of heliostat 12 will be covered ground.Because the different orientation of the heliostat of time in different a day, the size in crested zone and/or position can change for each heliostat.For example, because the orientation 13 of the reflective mirror in morning _MO, produce crested zone 502 with respect to viewing location 500, simultaneously the orientation 13 of the reflective mirror in afternoon _AFCan cause less crested zone 504.For the time in any one day in the Northern Hemisphere, the size in the crested zone, ground that is caused by the independent heliostat in the given distance in the positive north of tower can be greater than the size in the crested zone, ground that will be caused by same independent heliostat in the situation at the same distance place in the due south that is being deployed in tower.In the Southern Hemisphere, this situation will be opposite, cause that the more ground of each heliostat covers so that southern heliostat can be compared with corresponding northern heliostat.

Figure 51 illustrates two two heliostats 12 that are deployed in the west of tower 10.The part 512 of reflective mirror 13 is stopped by adjacent heliostat 12 with respect to viewing location 500.The insolation of in other words, being reflected by this part 512 will be stopped by the reflective mirror 13 of heliostat 12 and can not arrive viewing location 500.This part 512 can be considered as wasting the reflective mirror space, namely during some reflective mirrors orientation, not be used for insolation is directed to the available reflective mirror space at receiver place.In addition, between the zone of being covered by each reflective mirror 13, can exist overlapping, thereby produce on the ground single crested zone 510.By heliostat is separated further, shown in Figure 52, the crested ground region that is produced by each reflective mirror becomes independent and different zone 520,522, has gap 524 between it.This gap 524 is illustrated in the ground region that is not covered by heliostat in its current layout and the orientation.Because this gap will be visible from viewing location 500, so it can represent wasting space, namely during some reflective mirror orientation, be not used to insolation is directed to the land at receiver place.

In the optimization of heliostat field layout, can use the part 513 of each reflective mirror 13 that is blocked and/or crested zone, the size in 510 size and/or the distance between the crested zone, for example gap 524 for example.By not making the heliostat layout constraint in certain line or arc and by realizing comprising that the ground that above-mentioned ground covers every density range of considering covers optimum procedure, can obtain efficient heliostat layout.

By avoiding that the solar energy field layout is applied the constraint of arc or line, can make the ground of being covered by heliostat amount (namely a time point or within one or more time periods time average) optimization.In an embodiment, this can relate to wherein allow the heliostat position depart from significantly can be in solar energy field restrictive rule or in order any line of pattern or the situation of arc.In addition or alternatively, can make the deployment of heliostat be confined to for example concentric arc; Yet placing along the heliostat of each arc can be basically irregular to a great extent.In addition or alternatively, the deployment of heliostat can be constrained in the zone in the concentric driver's compartment centered by solar column.Calculation such as simulated annealing can be in the situation that be identified for the optimum position of the heliostat in each zone without any further geometrical constraint (such as arranging on online or the arc).This algorithm can cover based on the ground that for example target from solar column is seen and make heliostat position optimization in each zone.

With reference now to Figure 53,, shows the view of northern section of the interior section 402 of the part of the solar energy field of seeing from the top of tower 18 or near the position it, the field 2 among for example Figure 40-Figure 41.Figure 54 shows the part of solar energy field, for example the northern section of the exterior section 400N of the field 2 among Figure 40-Figure 41.Similarly, Figure 55-Figure 56 illustrates the interior section 402 of the field 2 among Figure 40-Figure 41 and the southern section of exterior section 400S.Character is covered on the ground that Figure 53-Figure 56 therefore illustrates the layout of the heliostat in the solar energy field.With compare as some schematic diagram (being the birds-eye view of solar energy field) time, this solar energy field is seeming more orderly (, because it is designed to make ground to cover maximization) when seeing near the top of tower or its.

The heliostat in an exterior section that is used for, the zone 400 of all solar energy field is as shown in figure 40 placed and can not considered specific bank or arc pattern, and the heliostat of the interior section that is used for simultaneously is placed can be highly constrained in specific line or arc.For example, in Figure 58, can be more in order and/or basically meet the grid layout closer to field 2 the fields inside 582 of tower, simultaneously can be in the situation that be constrained in the position that certain line or arc are determined the heliostat in the external field 580.For the field 1 shown in Figure 57, both has the heliostat of disposing according to line pattern (in interior section 572) or arc pattern (externally in the part 570) close to the fields inside 572 of tower with away from the external field 570 of tower.Opposite with the field 2 of Figure 58, the position of the heliostat of the field 1 among Figure 57 is selected as being in regular interval along global lines or arc pattern (namely being constrained in the deployment on line or the arc pattern), and this can cause covering for the ground less than the best of time in one or more times and/or one or more 1 year.Although the field among Figure 58 2 has the perimeter 580 that wherein can observe local line or arc pattern, it should be noted that position for these heliostats is to determine not requiring in the situation of the deployment of specific global lines or arc pattern.On the contrary, recognizable any local pattern is with respect to cover optimized of ground rather than is used for the product of the requirement disposed along the heliostat of some line or arc in 2 the layout.

In an embodiment, the solar energy field of heliostat can be provided in any combination of this disclosed any feature, includes but not limited to any combination (for scope, any combination of upper and lower bound limits possible scope) of following characteristics:

(1) heliostat is set size characteristic-for example, any feature can relate at least 10,50,100,150,200,500,1000,3000,5000,10000,20000,50 in solar energy field or its part, the heliostat group of 000 or 100,000 heliostat;

(2) the heliostat altitude feature-for example, any feature can relate to the heliostat group, wherein, thinks that whole, the most or suitable majority of any locational one group of heliostat is short.For example, heliostat height H (i.e. the height of the barycenter of the mirror assembly from local ground) is at the most 10m, 7m, 5m, 3m, 2.5m or 2m.For example, the ratio between heliostat height H and the tower height degree is at the most 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 2%, 1.5% or 1%;

(3) reflector size feature-for any one group of heliostat of any size, average reflector size can be for example be 1m at least ², 3m ², 5m ², 10m ²Or 12m ²Or 50m at the most ², 30m ²Or 20m ²

(4) evenly reflector size-heliostat can have substantially the same size or for example have the at the most mirror assembly of the standard deviation of 0.5,0.4,0.3,0.2,0.1,0.05,0.03,0.01 or 0.005 mirror assembly size and the ratio between the average reflector size;

(5) heliostat density-can be with density (every 100m of at least 0.1,0.3,0.5,0.75,1,1.5 or 2.5 or at the most 10,5,3,2,1.5 or 1 ²Heliostat) at one group of heliostat of deployed in areas of solar energy field;

(6) reflective mirror density-can be at one group of heliostat of deployed in areas of solar energy field so that at least 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% or 25% or at the most 70%, 50%, 30%, 20%, 15% or 10% reflective mirror density (being that the gross area of reflective mirror of all reflective mirror arrays of all heliostats in the given area is divided by the size of given area) to be provided.

As discussed above, be useful according to disposing heliostat for the heliostat scheme of ' ground blocking capability ' optimized placement scheme-namely wherein do not make heliostat be constrained in line or arc.Figure 61 figure-65 shows the particular case (namely near only sheltering from ground that observer's angle is seen at the top of tower or at the place, top of tower or it) of ' ground blocking capability '.At place, the top of tower or near the position it from observer's angle, the heliostat reflective mirror ' has covered ' (ground of equal value, " sheltering " or " hiding ") ground of solar energy field.When heliostat mutually enough near the time, the time in some one day, the sight line of adjacent heliostat overlapping (the again angle of the observer from the tower) has reduced with respect to the crested floor area that adds up to heliostat reflective mirror area.Do not having to force it to make among the optimized embodiment of heliostat layout online or in the situation of any constraint of the aligning on the arc therein, reduced the lap between the adjacent heliostat, given identical density and heliostat size, compare with the placement scheme that heliostat is retrained on online or the curve, realized ' cover on ground ' of larger level.The another way that this point is described is can be larger so that cover efficient (dead area of each heliostat or per unit heliostat reflective mirror area) with respect to the ground of the advantage point of tower when allowing heliostat to be arranged on the position of not following line or arc.

For 24 positions that are labeled as L1-L24 among Figure 61, highly be about 135 meters beholder's the angle at top of tower from being positioned at it, analyze and cover than the heliostat in competiting place 1 and the field 2 ability on ground.Each regional L1-L24 comprises at least 50 heliostats.Finish this analysis for some time point in a year.24 positions of following selection: the about 350m in the north, about 550m, approximately 750m place (3 positions), the about 350m in northwest, about 550m, approximately 750m place (3 positions), about 350m northeastward, about 550m, approximately 750m place (3 positions), the about 350m in south, about 550m, approximately 750m place (3 positions), the about 350m in southwest, about 550m, approximately 750m place (3 positions), the about 350m in the southeast, about 550m, approximately 750m place (3 positions), the about 350m in the west, about 550m, approximately 750m place (3 positions), about 350m in the Orient, about 550m, approximately 750m place (3 positions).

Figure 62-Figure 65 illustrates respectively March, June, September and the December result near one day 3 time (being 9AM, noon, 4PM) of the solar energy field position California Ivanpah at approximately 35 ° 20 ' 26 " N, 115 ° 18 ' 38 " W dimension place.In Figure 62 A, Figure 63 A, Figure 64 A and Figure 65 A, row B-H shows the ground shield parameter (G.O.) of the percentage on the ground of being covered by heliostat seen from the top of tower of expression, and is listed as the heliostat that I-N shows the per unit floor area.The heliostat density that is optimised for performance trends towards more near larger in tower and the south part on the scene.Be different from the ground shield parameter, heliostat density does not change, and does not therefore depend on the month in time or 1 year in one day.

Figure 62 B, Figure 63 B, Figure 64 B and Figure 65 B, row Q-V shows density normalization ground shield parameter, and its heliostat of disposing according to the heliostat placement scheme that characterizes different time in one day or the month in 1 year covers the efficient (GO.O/Dens) on ground.Row W-Y illustrates the G.O./Dens for 24 positions of two fields.Row Z-AB shows with to be listed as W-Y identical but be used rough inaccuracy orientation and be averaging scheme and be orientated the result who is averaging.Row AC-ACK does not show and is carried out normalized ground shield parameter according to the heliostat reflective mirror density in given area (being L1, L2...L24).

Figure 62 B, Figure 63 B, Figure 64 B and his Figure 65 B show 2 and trend towards to cover aspect the ground (namely from the top of tower or see near it) more efficient than field 1.Especially, can observe on some position, (i) ratio between the G.O./density of the G.O./density of the heliostat in 2 and (ii) heliostat in 1 trends towards surpassing 1-namely above a few percent at least.

The example of Figure 61-Figure 65 shows and heliostat wherein is not constrained in the optimization of heliostat layout of circular arc or line heliostat is restrained to the comparable when the obtainable ground coverage of having realized larger per unit reflective mirror area of comparing of heliostat layout of line or arc with using wherein.Some embodiment relates to the system based on the central tower heliostat, and it comprises a plurality of heliostats that are deployed in the solar energy field.Heliostat-Tower System can be deployed on any position in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere-for example surpassing 20 degree or surpassing 25 degree or surpass 30 degree and/or less than 50 degree or less than 45 degree or less than 40 degree or less than the dimension places of 35 degree.

On the

scene

1 and 2 two situations under, the layout of heliostat is the characteristic away from the field of tower.More close to the center solar column, in the situation that does not have the remarkable deterioration aspect the system effectiveness, can in how much schemes that are tied, dispose heliostat.More away from the center solar column, can be by in the situation that be constrained in the optimal placement that the layout of line or curve realizes heliostat.Although be used for to arrange that the prior art systems of heliostat can optimization, but it is in the situation that take to retrain like this and do, for example arrange that in concentric ranks heliostat is so that ranks were minimized by stopping of nearlyer ranks by continuous ranks being interlocked make at a distance, to realize more or less honeycomb arrangement making along the optimized while of spacing between the heliostat of ranks (rank).Therefore, the heliostat of ranks is spaced apart with angle A, and the heliostat of next ranks will be by spaced apart with A/2 with those of described ranks.

Pitch pattern in the ranks can change, and can change distance between the concentric ranks, but along have be no more than three times of spacing between the ranks be no more than line or the direct radial extension of arc in each ranks of three times average headway of average nearest neighbor distance of heliostat have the repeat patterns of many heliostats.This when random observation so that ranks limited well and be obvious.Note that described herein 1 example is the very significantly example that is subjected to the layout patterns of line or arc constraint.Have more unconspicuous example, but carefully check demonstration place geometrical constraint, for example parallel arc is overlapping.The free degree in the optimization has been simplified in constraint, and allows to obtain in simplifying constraint overall best configuration.Method and result in this proposition must be before not guaranteeing that by employing the optimal method that provides global optimum to determine scheme obtains overall optimum value, arrange in order to realize the non-geometrical constraint of heliostat, it has been found for before being considered to definite some useful optimized cost function of layout not realized the level of more optimizing.These comprise complicated cost function (for example season income or season electricity output) or simpler cost function, cover (for example in 0.5 times of the receiver height of receiver) such as the ground that near the advantage point the receiver from tower is seen.

Figure 66 show wherein as the spacing of the heliostat 722 of 726 places indication along some arc basically evenly (equidistant along arc) and as 728 places indication basically inhomogeneous on other arcs 730 (then three approach is the gap; The section of field layout 720 repetition).Drawing arc 728 is to be positioned on arc or the line for heliostat is shown, even its spacing is inhomogeneous.And, the figure shows concentric or parallel arc.These concentric arcs can be basically circular, oval-shaped or avette.Figure 67 show according to the embodiment of open theme away from tower and be the zone from the field 220 of above Figure 23 of reflection optimization field layout.This is that wherein heliostat 747 seems quite close to dropping on straight line 744 or the arc 742 but carefully check to show its example that does not have.220 be line or arc or particularly parallel lines or concentric arc to be placed to 720 difference so that its extend through be spaced from each other be no more than be adjacent to or online or arc at least 20 heliostats of three times of average (arest neighbors) spacing of heliostat.

Can see the sign that drops on the heliostat on line or the arc as with the viewpoint of the position of sign heliostat from how much information of needs.In an identical manner and because by making the heliostat position constraint can reduce the same cause of optimized dimension in line or arc, compare with unconfined one, the layout that define constrained optimization needs less information (method of supposing unconstrained optimization is utilized placement unrestricted free of heliostat and do not produced the internal limitations that may be reflected in the optimized results).In other words, the layout of constrained optimization have than unconfined one still less information or less entropy.In order to detection of straight lines or have manyly such as the algorithm of the existence of other curves of arc, and processed by image or the technical staff in compression of images field understands well.For example, be used for that image is processed and the algorithm of compression of images is developed well, and can be used for detection curve and determine the curve of the least complicated type that expression field layout is required.In case be detected, can be for parallel condition test curve.Can be with the number of curve and the number quantification that drops on the heliostat position on the curve.Approach the required information content in position of aspect its independent coordinate, specifying heliostat if characterize a required information content of layout aspect the position on curve and curve, then heliostat can not be said into is to drop on curve or the line, because use in this manual this term.Therefore, drop on curve or the line in order to make heliostat, the required minimal information amount in the position on expression line or the curve should than representing independently little approximately twice that the position is required or more, be supposed the equal precision in two kinds of expressions.In order to provide simple examples, if 1250 heliostats with the number distribution that equates on 25 curves, each can be expressed as cubic polynomial, then can characterize illy its position with 3 numbers (number) that are used for each curve and 50 numbers or 1325 that are used for the heliostat on each curve.Will be in the situation that reference line or curve specify its position will require 2500 numbers.

To the embodiment according to open theme exempt to being that the sector that will center on the border circular areas of receiver is considered as equating aspect the optimum target according to optimized another general constraint of field layout of prior art, so that obtain rotational symmetric pattern.For example stop mutually that in order to its that the receiver of heliostat on the central tower is guided the DT optimum target that minimizes or eliminate can produce the alternate intervals pattern, as apparent in Figure 66, but this pattern finally repeats in the adjacent sectors 732 with RADIAL 734, and pattern repeats between this RADIAL 734.Repeat all embodiment that lack and characterize open theme of sector pattern.For example, can be used in ground and cover the optimization of efficient and be constrained in and equate sector region 772 and 776 (Figure 68), it can have the layout patterns of identical or mirror image.Yet according to the embodiment of open theme, otherwise heliostat is constrained in the zone 772.In Figure 68, show the driver's compartment 778 that is bonded in the layout, it limits does not wherein place heliostat and serves as optimized constraint but the zone of the layout in the constraint not, and for example 772,776 and 774.

The embodiment of open theme comprises a plurality of optimizations that may targets, and the result's that can obtain according to optimized complexity and computation burden and from optimization feature is divided into groups it.Table 3 shows optimal method and the result of the nonlinear optimization algorithm of using with fixing geometrical constraint based on (in some cases).Table 3 is divided into embodiment kind, example and the related different characteristic of open optimal method embodiment and heliostat layout.Among the embodiment of capable I in being indicated as table 3, heliostat is moved around in the sector of arbitrary dimension.Can improve optimization by the width that increases the sector.Because near the optimization of the interior zone the tower is not benefited from the high-freedom degree number in the optimization, so can be with this zone eliminating, for example zone shown in Figure 68 782.Can obtain Rotational Symmetry from the optimization of covering about ground because this layout no matter angle how with respect to receiver ground is covered and has identical effect.By increasing sector size, can realize having the more free degree of the optimization benefit of minimizing.

Among the embodiment of capable II in being indicated as table 3, make the interior energy production optimization of one or more time intervals of the operation in one or more day time operation cycles of simulation.One group of simulation fate can comprise a plurality of seasons and carry out convergent-divergent with corresponding to the annual operation cycle.If if the beginning of carrying out every day and finish between difference do not have the difference of the weather on an average between remarkable meaning and AM and the PM to produce hardly difference to the optimization of field layout, then to produce performance prediction the free degree is die-offed by only changing the layout on the side and carrying out mirror image.Otherwise, the field optimum can be turned to whole unit.

Among the embodiment of capable III in being indicated as table 3, make the interior income operation optimization of one or more time intervals of the operation in one or more day time operation cycles of simulation.One group of simulation fate can comprise a plurality of seasons and carry out convergent-divergent with corresponding to the annual operation cycle.Usually, the income optimization will be expected the asymmetric of the thing side that causes best layout.If in one day process (recognizing that it also becomes according to season) if or in the beginning of operation every day and the difference of the energy that is worth of the generation between finishing do not have the weather difference on an average between remarkable meaning and AM and the PM not produce significant difference for the optimization of field layout, then can to produce performance prediction the free degree be die-offed by only changing the layout on the side and carrying out mirror image.Otherwise, the field optimum can be turned to whole.

Note that in an embodiment the constraint that can apply such as driver's compartment 778, heliostat can be foreclosed there.

Table 3: optimal method and result: have the fixedly nonlinear optimization algorithm of geometrical constraint

Should be appreciated that can be with hardware, realize above-mentioned module, process, system and section with the hardware of software programming, software instruction or the above combination that is stored on the non-temporary computer readable medium.For example, for example can realize for the system of control heliostat and/or be used for to determine the system of the heliostat layout of solar energy field with the processor that is configured to carry out the programming instruction sequence that is stored on the non-temporary computer readable medium.For example, processor can include but not limited to personal computer or work station or other this type of computing systems, it comprises processor, microprocessor, microcontroller device, perhaps by comprising that the control logic such as the integrated circuit of for example special IC (ASIC) forms.Can compile this instruction from the source code instruction that provides according to programming languages such as Java, C++, C#_.net.This instruction can also comprise according to for example VisualBasic ^TMCode and data object that language or another structuring or Object-Oriented Programming Language provide.Programming instruction sequence and data associated therewith can be stored in the non-temporary computer readable medium such as computer storage or memory device, it can be any suitably memory devices, such as, but not limited to ROM, PROM, EEPROM, RAM, flash memory, disc driver etc.

In addition, module, treatment system and section can be embodied as single processor or distributed processors.In addition, should be appreciated that and to carry out above-mentioned steps at single or distributed processors (monokaryon and/or multinuclear).And, in the various figure of above embodiment and for process, module and submodule that this embodiment describes, can cross over a plurality of computers or system's distribution, perhaps can jointly be positioned in single processor or the system.The below provides and is suitable for realizing that the exemplary configurations embodiment of module described herein, section, system, device or process replaces.

Module described herein, processor or system can be embodied as programmed general purpose computer for example, with electronic equipment, the hardwire analog logic circuit of microcode programming, be stored in networked system, dedicated computing equipment, IC-components, the semiconductor chip of software, optical computing equipment, electronics and/or optical device on computer-readable medium or the signal and be stored in computer-readable medium or signal on software module or object.

Can realize at all-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, programming microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit component, ASIC or other integrated circuits, digital signal processor, such as the hardwire electronics of discrete component circuit or logic circuit, such as the program logic circuit of PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL etc. the embodiment of described method and system (or its subassembly or module).Any process that usually, can realize function described herein or step can be used for realizing the embodiment of described method, system or computer program (or be stored on the non-temporary computer readable medium software program).

In addition, can example such as the object that the portable source code that can use at multiple computer platform is provided or the Object-oriented Software Development environment is completely or partially easily realized open method, system and computer program with software embodiment.Alternatively, can example such as standard logic circuit or VLSI design partly or realize the embodiment of open method, system and computer program fully with hardware.Can according to speed and/or efficient requirement, the specific function of system and/or specific software or hardware system, microprocessor or the microcomputer of usefulness using other hardware or software to realize embodiment.Can occur and/or the general rudimentary knowledge in computer programming field is come the embodiment of usefulness hardware and/or software implementation method, system and computer program with any system known or after a while exploitation or structure, equipment and/or software by those skilled in the art according to the functional description that provides at this and with solar energy.

In addition, can be used in the embodiment that the upper software of carrying out such as programmed general purpose computer, special-purpose computer, microprocessor is realized open method, system and computer program.

Can be with the Feature Combination of disclosed embodiment in disclosure scope, rearrange, omission etc. to be to produce additional embodiment.In addition, sometimes can in the situation of the corresponding use that does not have other features, advantageously use some feature.

Therefore, it is evident that according to the disclosure and the solar energy field layout is provided and has been used for the system and method arrange therein, safeguard and operate heliostat.Make it possible to realize many replacements, modification and change with the disclosure.Although illustrated and described in detail specific embodiment to illustrate the application of principle of the present invention, be understood that and embody the present invention in the situation that do not break away from this type of principle in addition.Therefore, applicant's intention contains within the spirit and scope of the present invention all these type of replacements, modification, equivalent and change.

Claims

1. the method for a design and operation solar heat heliostat field comprises:

In the situation that do not make the heliostat position constraint in line or arc, the prediction ground of being realized by heliostat of seeing in response to the top of the solar column from solar energy field or near the position it is covered and is used in the position optimization of the heliostat in quite a few of solar energy field;

Construct the solar heat heliostat field according to the optimization position;

In the solar energy field of structure, select the driver's compartment between primary importance and the second place, at least a portion of selected driver's compartment is take some heliostat as the border, so that had for first when orientation when the border heliostat, the short of width of the described part that is limited by the border heliostat at the opposite side of driver's compartment is to allow safeguarding that vehicle is by described part;

The reflective mirror that makes the border heliostat is redirected to the second orientation from the first orientation, so that the width of the described part that is limited by the border heliostat at the opposite side of driver's compartment is enough to allow to safeguard that vehicle is by described part;

Make and safeguard that vehicle moves to the second place along described driver's compartment from primary importance; And

At described second place place, the working service vehicle is safeguarded one or more in the heliostat of structure in the solar energy field.

2. the process of claim 1 wherein, described maintenance comprises by crossing in the heliostat of border at least one cleans one or more in the heliostat.

3. the process of claim 1 wherein, described solar heat heliostat field is constructed on the Northern Hemisphere; Described optimization is so that larger in the second portion of the structure field in the solar column north of the heliostat density ratio in the first of the southern structure of solar column; The south of receiver in the tower that the north of the receiver in the tower that the heliostat in the second portion is directed to insolation and the heliostat in the first are directed to insolation has substantially the same front face area; And described first is the mirror image of second portion with respect to the line from east to west of the pedestal by solar column.

4. the process of claim 1 wherein, described optimization is so that larger in the second portion of the structure field of the east of solar column of the heliostat density ratio in the first of the structure field in the west of solar column; The west of the receiver in the tower that the east of the receiver in the tower that the heliostat in the second portion is directed to insolation and the heliostat in the first are directed to insolation has substantially the same front face area; And described first is the mirror image of second portion with respect to the meridian line of the pedestal by solar column.

5. the method for solar energy field design comprises:

In the situation that do not make the heliostat position constraint in concentric arc, in response to covering and be used in the position optimization of the heliostat in quite a few of solar energy field in the prediction ground of being realized by heliostat of seeing from the top of solar column or near the position it; And

Construct the solar heat heliostat field in response to optimized result.

6. the method for claim 5, wherein, described optimization is confined to the perimeter.

7. the solar heat heliostat field that obtains from the method for claim 5 or 6.

8. a making is used for having and sets up receiver on the tower and will arrange at least 5000 heliostats around tower in the above so that the method for the solar energy field of the solar-powered thermal system of the field of solar-energy collecting to the receiver comprises:

Restriction will make heliostat be positioned at least a portion of the field above it;

Described at least a portion have along extend from the tower position for the first dimension of at least 0.5 times of the height of tower and with the second dimension as the first dimension quadrature of at least the first dimension; And

The position in remaining on described at least one portion boundary, be not constrained in the situation of any geometrical pattern position of the heliostat in described at least one portion boundary, by making solar energy production and/or income produce the number that maximization makes the heliostat in described at least one part with optimization algorithm and arranging optimization.

9. the method for claim 8, wherein, one or combination in described optimization algorithm is the overall situation or Local Search random/probability instrument, meta-heuristic algorithm, genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, mountain-climbing algorithm, genetic algorithm, dynamic programming and/or the ant group algorithm.

10. a making is used for having and sets up receiver on the tower and will arrange at least 5000 heliostats around tower in the above so that the method for the solar energy field of the solar-powered thermal system of the field of solar-energy collecting to the receiver comprises:

The position in remaining on described at least one portion boundary, be not limited in the situation of any geometrical pattern position of the heliostat in described at least one portion boundary, by with respect to the tower height that begins from receiver location 30% in the advantage point ground that is used in heliostat shelter the number that the time average optimization is made the heliostat described at least one part of efficient and arrange optimization, the area on the ground that this efficient is sheltered by the reflective mirror of heliostat is divided by the total area of the reflective mirror of the heliostat in described at least one part.

11. the method for claim 10, wherein, one or combination in described optimization algorithm is the overall situation or Local Search random/probability instrument, meta-heuristic algorithm, genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, mountain-climbing algorithm, genetic algorithm, dynamic programming and/or the ant group algorithm.

12. the method for each among the claim 8-11, wherein, described part is whole.

13. the method for each among the claim 8-11, wherein, described part is from least 5 times distance of tower height to the scope less than the field in 25 times the distance range of tower height.

14. the method for each among the claim 8-11, wherein, described tower height is the tower height of certain limit, and described optimization comprises definite best accurately tower height.

15. the method for claim 8-11, wherein, describedly be not limited to that any geometrical pattern means not limit the heliostat position so that drop on line or the arc in the specific range of its online or arc, perhaps in the interior certain position scope of predefine distance of online or arc, its length is at least ten times of average headway that are adjacent to or drop on the heliostat on line or the arc.

16. a method that is used for disposing in solar energy field many heliostats, wherein said heliostat are configured to insolation is directed to target in the solar column in the solar energy field, the method comprises:

In the situation that be not constrained in certain line or arc layout and cover based on the ground that the advantage point from solar column is seen, be identified for the heliostat deployed position of described many heliostats with optimization algorithm.

17. the method for claim 16 also comprises the time in time and/or 1 year of selecting in one or more one day, wherein, and the amount maximization that described optimization algorithm is covered the ground of selected one or more time durations.

18. the method for claim 16, wherein, described optimization algorithm make from tower on the time average ground seen of viewpoint in 25% the distance that is not more than distance from ground to receiver of receiver cover maximization.

19. the method for claim 16 also comprises according to definite deployed position heliostat is installed.

20. the method for claim 16, wherein, described optimization algorithm comprise simulated annealing, meta-heuristic algorithm, the overall situation or Local Search random/probability instrument, mountain-climbing algorithm, dynamic programming algorithm and/or ant group algorithm.

21. the method for claim 16, wherein, definite deployed position be perimeter for solar energy field, and comprise the heliostat deployed position of the interior zone that is used for solar energy field of determining to be confined to regular grid.

22. the method for claim 16, wherein, described use optimization algorithm comprises a plurality of concentric driver's compartment of selecting centered by solar column, and the deployed position in the solar energy field between adjacent some of not determining with annealing algorithm in the situation of any constraint of certain line or arc layout in the driver's compartment regional.

23. the method for claim 22, wherein, described zone comprises at least five ten heliostat deployed position therein.

24. the method for claim 16, wherein, described optimization algorithm is weighted so that the ground during several hours afternoon of summer covers maximization.

25. a solar column system comprises:

Solar column, it has target therein;

Around the heliostat field of solar column, each heliostat is configured to insolation is directed to described target place,

Wherein, have heliostat on the concentric arc that is not disposed in centered by the pedestal of tower away from least annular section of the field of tower, and

Have according to regular grid pattern or the heliostat arranged at concentric arc around at least interior section of the field of the pedestal of tower.

26. a solar column system comprises:

Solar column, it has target therein; And

Around the heliostat field of solar column, each heliostat is configured to insolation is directed to target in the solar column, and this comprises interior zone and perimeter, and interior zone and perimeter are both centered by solar column, and the perimeter is around interior zone,

Wherein, the heliostat in the interior zone is to dispose according to the line that passes interior zone or arc pattern, and

Heliostat in the perimeter is that line or the arc pattern of not considering to pass the perimeter are disposed.

27. the system of claim 26, wherein, each heliostat in the perimeter is positioned at the distance more than or equal to several times of height of solar column, and each heliostat in the interior zone is positioned at the distance less than the described several times of height of solar column.

28. the system of claim 26, wherein, the heliostat in the interior zone is deployed on the regular grid pattern.

29. a system comprises:

Solar column; And

Be deployed in the solar energy field and be configured to so that insolation is redirected to the top place of the solar column in the solar energy field or near a plurality of heliostats of the target it, all there is heliostat in sizable zone that its total heliostat is deployed as the solar energy field of at least 100 heliostats so that spread all over the major part in the described quite large zone of solar energy field

Wherein, heliostat in this quite large zone dispose pattern so that by a series of 20 or more multiple heliostats can not draw parallel lines or arc, can make along this line or arc that heliostat is spaced apart to be no more than along three times of the average nearest neighbor distance of the heliostat of line or arc.

30. the system of claim 29, wherein, described sizable zone is whole solar energy field 2.5 times above the height that is at least the solar energy receiver on the tower and radial distance tower.

31. the system of claim 29, wherein, the heliostat of contiguous tower is along line or arc location.

32. a method that is used for disposing in solar energy field many heliostats, wherein said heliostat are configured to insolation is directed to target in the solar column in the solar energy field, the method comprises:

When solar column on the Northern Hemisphere the time in the south of solar column in solar energy field, to dispose heliostat than the density higher in the north of solar column; Perhaps

When solar column during in the Southern Hemisphere in the north of solar column in solar energy field, to dispose heliostat than the density higher in the south of solar column.

33. a method that is used for disposing in solar energy field many heliostats, wherein said heliostat are configured to insolation is directed to target in the solar column in the solar energy field, the method comprises:

Select in one or more one day the time in time or 1 year;

For selected one or more times, between the first area of solar energy field and second area, arrange many heliostats, so that add up in reflector size, heliostat density, heliostat number and the average reflector size at least one different from second area in the first area

Wherein, described second area is that the first area is with respect to one mirror area in the basic orientation centered by solar column.

34. the method for claim 33, wherein, described first area is in the north of solar column; Described second area is in the south of solar column; Solar energy field is positioned at the Northern Hemisphere; And be used for second group total reflector size, heliostat density, heliostat number and average reflector size one be used for first group corresponding one ratio more than or equal to 1.01: 1.

35. the method for claim 33, wherein, described first area is in the east of solar column; Described second area is in the west of solar column; And be used for second group total reflector size, heliostat density, heliostat number and average reflector size one be used for first group corresponding one ratio more than or equal to 1.01: 1.

36. the method for claim 33, wherein, the heliostat during at least one in the selected time in second group compare with the heliostat in first group on an average insolation is directed to aspect the target so not efficient.

37. the method for claim 33, wherein, first group and second group in each zone in solar energy field at least with solar column be the distance of the twice of solar column height.

38. the method for claim 13, wherein, the described selected time in the afternoon and described layout so that the insolation in afternoon greater than the insolation in morning.

39. the method for claim 38, wherein, the described selected time is in summer.

40. a method that is used for disposing in solar energy field heliostat comprises:

Determine the first area of solar energy field, in the first area, time in time and/or one or more 1 year is compared with the heliostat in the second area of solar energy field in one or more one day, and the heliostat that insolation is directed to the target place in the solar column is so not efficient on how much; And

In solar energy field, dispose heliostat, so that the first area has total reflective mirror area or the heliostat density higher than second area.

41. the method for claim 40, wherein, described second area is that the first area is with respect to one mirror area in the basic axle centered by solar column.

42. the method for claim 40, wherein, described target has the face of front face area substantially the same on each basic orientation.

43. the method for claim 40, wherein, described target is columnar, has the height of substantial constant around its circumference.

44. a heliostat field that is arranged in the Northern Hemisphere comprises:

Receiver tower in the heliostat field, Nan Chang part and Bei Chang part are passed through the line from east to west of the pedestal of tower and are divided; And

Receiver in the described tower, it has in the face of the face north side of Bei Chang part with in the face of Nan Chang face southern side partly, and face north side and face southern side have equal area,

Wherein, the total reflective mirror area of the heliostat in the Nan Chang part is greater than the total reflective mirror area of the heliostat in the Bei Chang part.

45. the field of claim 44, wherein, described receiver has the standpipe that extends along its face north side and face southern side, in the pipe some is configured to make working fluid overheated or working fluid is heated on the super critical point of working fluid at least.

46. the field of claim 44, wherein, in solar energy field, and the receiver in the tower has the face of equal areas that faces south and face north to described solar column in plane.

47. the field of claim 44, wherein, described receiver has along the surface that faces north and faces the standpipe that extend on the surface in south, in the pipe some is configured to make working fluid overheated or working fluid is heated on the super critical point of working fluid at least.

48. a solar column system comprises:

Solar column, it has target therein; And

Around the heliostat field of solar column, each heliostat is configured to insolation is directed to described target place, wherein

For first group of heliostat in the first area of field and second area in second group of heliostat, second area be described first area with respect to one mirror image in the basic orientation centered by solar column, be used for corresponding of being different from for described second group of heliostat of total reflector size, heliostat density, heliostat number and the average reflector size of described first group of heliostat.

49. the system of claim 48, wherein, described first area is in the north of solar column; Described second area is in the south of solar column, be used for second group total reflector size, heliostat density, heliostat number and average reflector size one be used for first group corresponding one ratio more than or equal to 1.01: 1; And the field of heliostat is arranged in the Northern Hemisphere.

50. the system of claim 48, wherein, described first area is in the east of solar column; Described second area is in the west of solar column; And be used for second group total reflector size, heliostat density, heliostat number and average reflector size one be used for first group corresponding one ratio more than or equal to 1.01: 1.

51. the system of claim 48, wherein, the time in time and/or 1 year at least one one day, the heliostat in second group compare with the heliostat in first group on an average insolation is directed to aspect the target so not efficient.

52. the system of claim 51, wherein, in described one day the time be in afternoon and described 1 year the time be summer.

53. the system of claim 48, wherein, described first group and second group in each zone in solar energy field at least with solar column be the distance of the twice of solar column height.

54. the system of claim 48, wherein, each group comprises at least 100 heliostats.

55. a solar column system comprises:

Solar column; And

Heliostat field, thus it is arranged to around solar column, wherein

Heliostat density in the second portion that heliostat density in the first in this is higher than, and

Described first has during one or more time periods heliostat in the second portion with the field and compares on an average on how much so efficiently heliostat.

56. the system of claim 55, wherein, described solar column is arranged on the Northern Hemisphere, and described first is positioned at the south of solar column, and described second portion is positioned at the north of solar column.

57. the system of claim 55, wherein, described solar column is arranged in the Southern Hemisphere, and described first is positioned at the north of solar column, and described second portion is positioned at the south of solar column.

58. the system of claim 55, wherein, described first is positioned at the west of tower, and described second portion is positioned at the east of tower.

59. one kind with safeguarding that vehicle safeguards the method for the heliostat in the solar energy field, solar column has the target that is positioned at solar energy field therein, and the method comprises;

In solar energy field, select the driver's compartment between primary importance and the second place, at least a portion of selected driver's compartment is take heliostat as the border, so that be in for first when orientation when the border heliostat, the short of width of the described part that is limited by the border heliostat at the opposite side of driver's compartment is to allow safeguarding that vehicle is by described part;

The reflective mirror of border heliostat is redirected, so that the width of the described part that is limited by the border heliostat at the opposite side of driver's compartment is enough to allow to safeguard that vehicle is by described part; And

Make and safeguard that vehicle moves to the second place along described driver's compartment from primary importance.

60. the method for claim 59 also is included in described second place place working service car two and cleans heliostat.

61. the method for claim 60, wherein, described cleaning comprises crosses one or more heliostats do not limit the driver's compartment border with cleaning heliostat.

62. the method for claim 61, also comprise the reflective mirror that makes the border heliostat return with safeguard vehicle by after insolation is directed to the target place.

63. a method that is used for disposing in solar energy field many heliostats, wherein said heliostat are configured to insolation is directed to target in the solar column in the solar energy field, the method comprises;

Be identified for the heliostat deployed position of the described many heliostats at least a portion of solar energy field with optimization algorithm so that the required minimal information amount of the definite deployed position of institute on expression line or the arc greater than represent independently half of the required information content of definite deployed position.

64. a solar column system comprises:

Solar column, it has target therein; And

Around the heliostat field of solar column, each heliostat is configured to insolation is directed to target in the solar column, and this comprises interior zone and perimeter, and inside and outside zone is both centered by solar column, and the perimeter is around interior zone,

Wherein, the heliostat in the interior zone is disposed according to line or arc pattern, and

Dispose the heliostat in the perimeter so that the required minimal information amount of the definite deployed position of institute on expression line or the arc greater than represent independently half of the required information content of definite deployed position.

65. the method for a generating comprises the system that operates any aforementioned system claim.

66. one kind with fused salt or motlten metal or pressurization H ₂O or pressurization CO ₂The method of heating comprises the system that operates any aforementioned system claim.