CN106196648B

CN106196648B - Solar energy field is laid out and in wherein arrangement, the system and method for maintenance and operation heliostat

Info

Publication number: CN106196648B
Application number: CN201610493516.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 吉尔·克罗伊泽; 约尔·吉隆; 埃亚勒·罗森曼
Original assignee: Liangyuan Industry (israel) Co Ltd
Current assignee: Liangyuan Industry (israel) Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-06-16
Filing date: 2011-06-16
Publication date: 2019-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 2031-06-16
Also published as: CN106196648A

Abstract

Can by safeguard vehicle can along channel of having ready conditions by solar energy field in a manner of it is at least some of in heliostat to arrange and operate.To allow by maintenance vehicle close to heliostat heliostat arrangement and control can make with routinely arrangement compared with can be realized different heliostat patterns.It particularly, can may be in the heliostat in a section of geometrically less efficient solar energy field to arrange with higher density compared with the heliostat in another section of solar energy field.Furthermore it is possible in the case where not making position constraint in certain line or arc pattern based on from terms of the advantage point in solar column covered ground and/or income generate make field each section in heliostat position optimize.

Description

Solar energy field layout and for being in wherein arrangement, maintenance and operation heliostat System and method

The application be " on December 17th, 2012 " applying date, application No. is " 201180029293.0 ", entitled The division Shen of the application of " solar energy field is laid out and in wherein arrangement, the system and method for maintenance and operation heliostat " Please.

Cross reference to related applications

It is mentioned on August 30th, 61/355,271,2010 this application claims the U.S. Provisional Application No. submitted on June 16th, 2010 The U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/380,237,2011 that 61/378,382,2010 year September of U.S. Provisional Application No. of friendship is submitted on the 5th The U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/487,136 and on 2 25th, the 2011 international application no PCT/ submitted that on May 17, in submits The equity of US11/26273 is all integrally incorporated herein.

Technical field

Present disclose relates generally to solar energy systems, and more particularly relate to arrange heliostat in solar energy field System and method.Present disclosure also relates to the system and method for safeguarding in solar energy field and/or operating heliostat.

Summary of the invention

Embodiment of the disclosure is generally directed to maintenance and/or operate the solar energy field of solar power system is System, method and apparatus.It can be navigated by the solar energy field that operates in a specific way and/or heliostat to maintenance vehicle To realize the maintenance (such as clean, repair or replace) of certain heliostats.Safeguard vehicle can permanent in solar energy field or It has ready conditions and passes through solar energy field on channel.Heliostat be can control to allow to safeguard that vehicle advances along these channels of having ready conditions.

The heliostat in a part of solar energy field can be arranged according to more orderly and highdensity pattern, such as is connect It is bordering on solar column, while can be according to there are no the patterns of sequence come the heliostat arranged in another part in solar energy field, example As far from solar column.Therefore there can be item by controlling certain heliostats to open in the solar energy field for safeguarding vehicle Part channel is come so that can realize to the close of the heliostat in orderly or unordered drafting department.It can make to determine in the various parts of field The density and arrangement of solar eyepiece are optimized to improve and/or maximize solar energy generation and/or income and generate.It can not consider to close Density/arrangement of heliostat is selected in the case where the symmetry of basic orientation.

In embodiment, the method for designing and operating solar heat heliostat field can not be such that heliostat position is confined to Include in the case where line or arc in response in terms of the position from the top of the solar column in solar energy field or near it by the settled date It shelters and is used in position of the heliostat in quite a few of solar energy field and optimizes in the ground of mirror prediction.This method may be used also To include constructing solar heat heliostat field according to position is optimized.In addition, this method may include the constructed sun of selection The driver's compartment between first position and the second position in energy field.At least part of selected driver's compartment can be with certain heliostats For boundary so that when boundary heliostat has first orientation, by the boundary heliostat in the opposite side of driver's compartment define should Partial short of width is to allow to safeguard that vehicle passes through the part.This method can also include make the reflective mirror of boundary heliostat from First orientation is redirected to second orientation, so that the part limited by the boundary heliostat in the opposite side of driver's compartment Width is enough to allow to safeguard that vehicle passes through the part.This method can also include that vehicle will be safeguarded from first position along driver's compartment It is moved to the second position.In the second place, maintenance vehicle can be used and safeguarded in heliostat in constructed solar energy field It is one or more.

In embodiment, the method for solar energy field design may include in the feelings for not making heliostat position be confined to concentric arc It is used in and determines in response to being sheltered in terms of the position from the top of solar column or near it by the ground of heliostat prediction under condition Position of the solar eyepiece in quite a few of solar energy field optimizes.This method may be responsive to the result optimized and come Construct solar heat heliostat field.

In embodiment, the solar energy field for solar heat Force system can have erection receiver on tower and will be at it At least 5000 heliostats are arranged around the tower so that field on solar-energy collecting to receiver above.For manufacturing solar energy field Method may include limiting at least part of field, heliostat will be located in above it.Described at least one portion can be with With along at least 0.5 times of the first dimension that the radius extended from tower position is tower height degree and with as at least the first dimension Orthogonal the second dimension of the first dimension.This method can also include in addition to be maintained in at least part of boundary Position except be not limited to any geometrical pattern position of heliostat in the boundary of described at least one portion in the case where Solar energy generation and/or income is set to generate maximization by using optimization algorithm to make the settled date in described at least one portion The number and arrangement of mirror optimize.

In embodiment, the solar energy field for solar heat Force system can have erection receiver on tower and will be at it At least 5000 heliostats are arranged around the tower so that field on solar-energy collecting to receiver above.For manufacturing solar energy field Method may include limit field at least part, heliostat will by positioning with its above.Described at least one portion can be with With along at least 0.5 times of the first dimension that the radius extended from tower position is tower height degree and with as at least the first dimension Orthogonal the second dimension of the first dimension.This method can also include in addition to be maintained in at least part of boundary Position except be not limited to any geometrical pattern position of heliostat in the boundary of described at least one portion in the case where By making the ground masking efficiency for heliostat relative to the advantage point in 30% of the tower height since receiver location The number and arrangement to time average maximization to make the heliostat in described at least one portion optimize, which is By the area on the ground of the reflective mirror masking of heliostat divided by total face of the reflective mirror of the heliostat in described at least one portion Product.

In embodiment, solar energy field can have in the solar column for being configured to that insolation is directed in solar energy field Target many heliostats.Method for disposing many heliostats in solar energy field may include being not limited to certain line Or in the case that arc is laid out and based on from the ground masking in terms of the advantage point in solar column and using optimization algorithm come really Surely it is used for the heliostat deployed position of many heliostats.

In embodiment, solar column system may include solar column and heliostat field.Solar column can be wherein With target.Heliostat field can surround solar column.Each heliostat can be configured to for insolation being directed at this target.It is separate At least annular section of the field of tower can have the heliostat on the concentric arc not being arranged in centered on the pedestal of tower.Around tower At least internal of the field of pedestal can have the heliostat arranged according to regular grid pattern or concentric arc.

In embodiment, solar column system may include solar column and heliostat field.Solar column can be wherein With target.Heliostat field can surround solar column.Each heliostat can be configured to for insolation being directed at this target.This It can have inner region and outskirt, both centered on solar column.Outskirt can surround inner region.It can be according to across inner region Line or arc pattern dispose the heliostat in inner region.It can be disposed in the case where not considering across the line or arc pattern of outskirt outer Heliostat in area.

In embodiment, a kind of system may include solar column and be deployed in solar energy field and be configured to make insolation It is redirected to the target at the top of the solar column in solar energy field or near it.The marking area of solar energy field can have for Total heliostat deployment of at least 100 heliostats, so that there are the settled dates throughout the major part of the marking area of solar energy field Mirror.Heliostat deployment pattern in the marking area can prevent by a series of 20 or more from drawing Parallel lines or arc can make heliostat be spaced apart the average arest neighbors being no more than along the heliostat of line or arc along the line or arc Three times of short distance.

In embodiment, solar energy field, which can have, is configured to for insolation to be directed to many at the target in solar column Heliostat.A kind of method for disposing many heliostats may include when solar column on the Northern Hemisphere Shi Yiyu in the sun Heliostat can be disposed in the southern solar energy field of solar column compared to higher density to the north of tower, or when solar column is in south Shi Yiyu disposes the settled date in the solar energy field in the north of solar column compared to higher density on the south solar column in hemisphere Mirror.

In embodiment, solar energy field, which can have, is configured to for insolation to be directed to many at the target in solar column Heliostat.A kind of method for disposing many heliostats may include selecting in one or more a times or 1 year Time, and selected one or more times are directed to, many is arranged between the first and second regions of solar energy field Heliostat, so that at least one in total reflector size, heliostat density, the number of heliostat and average reflector size It is a in the first region with difference in the second area.The second area can be first area relative to solar column Centered on basic orientation in one MIRROR SITE.

In embodiment, a kind of method for disposing heliostat in solar energy field can include determining that solar energy field First area the time in one or more times and/or one or more 1 year, insolation is referred in the first region The heliostat guided at the target in solar column be not geometrically that compared with the heliostat in the second area of solar energy field Efficiently, and in solar energy field heliostat is disposed so that first area has total reflective mirror more higher than second area Area or heliostat density.

In embodiment, the heliostat field in the Northern Hemisphere may include receiver tower in heliostat field and in tower In receiver.The part Nan Chang and the part Bei Chang of field can be divided with the line from east to west of the pedestal across tower.Receiver can be with With the face north side in face of the part Bei Chang and in face of the face southern side of the part Nan Chang.The face southern side Bei Hemian can have equal face Product.Total reflective mirror area of heliostat in the part Nan Chang can be greater than total reflective mirror of the heliostat in the part Bei Chang Product.

In embodiment, solar column system may include in the solar column wherein with target and around solar column Heliostat field.Each heliostat can be configured to for insolation being directed at the target.For first in the first area of field Second group of heliostat in group heliostat and the second area of field, total reflector size, settled date for first group of heliostat One in mirror density, heliostat number and average reflector size is different from being used for corresponding the one of second group of heliostat It is a.Second area can be first area relative to one mirror image in the basic orientation centered on solar column.

In embodiment, solar column system may include solar column and be arranged to determine around solar column Solar eyepiece field.Heliostat density in first part in this can be higher than the heliostat density in the second part of field. First part can have to exist compared with the heliostat in the second part of field on an average during one or more periods Geometrically less efficient heliostat.

In embodiment, it can be positioned with solar energy field in the solar column wherein with target.One kind is used Maintenance vehicle may include the first position and second selected in solar energy field come the method for safeguarding the heliostat in solar energy field Driver's compartment between position.At least part of selected driver's compartment can be using heliostat as boundary, so that at the heliostat of boundary When first orientation, the short of width of the part defined by the boundary heliostat in the opposite side of driver's compartment is to allow maintenance cart Pass through the part.This method can also include redirecting the reflective mirror of boundary heliostat, so that by driver's compartment The width for the part that the boundary heliostat of opposite side limits is enough to allow to safeguard that vehicle passes through the part.This method can be with Including will safeguard that vehicle is moved to the second position from first position along driver's compartment.

In embodiment, solar energy field can have in the solar column for being configured to that insolation is directed in solar energy field Target at many heliostats.A kind of method for disposing many heliostats in solar energy field may include using most Optimization algorithm determines the heliostat deployed positions of many heliostats at least part for solar energy field, so that Minimal information amount needed for must indicating the determined deployed position on line or arc, which is greater than, independently indicates determined deployed position institute The half of the information content needed.

In embodiment, solar column may include solar column and heliostat field.Solar column can have wherein Target.Heliostat field can surround solar column.Each heliostat can be configured to the target being directed to insolation in solar column Place.This may include inner region and outskirt.It inner and outer area both can be centered on solar column.Outskirt can be around interior Area.The heliostat in inner region can be disposed according to line or arc pattern.The heliostat in outskirt can be disposed, so that indicating line Or minimal information amount needed for the determined deployed position on arc is greater than information needed for independently indicating determined deployed position The half of amount.

In embodiment, a kind of electricity-generating method may include operation any system disclosed herein.In embodiment, a kind of By fused salt, molten metal, pressurization H₂O and pressurization CO₂The method of heating may include operation any system disclosed herein.

When being considered in conjunction with the accompanying, according to being described below, the objects and advantages of embodiment of the disclosure will become it is aobvious and It is clear to.

Detailed description of the invention

Embodiment will hereinafter be described in reference to the drawings, have not necessarily been drawn to scale.Where applicable, may be used Can certain features not shown to help the diagram and description of lower region feature.Throughout each figure, similar reference label indicates similar Element.

Fig. 1 is the solar energy receiver being tower-mounted for illustrating one or more embodiments according to open theme The schematic diagram of concept.

Fig. 2 is the sun for illustrating the heliostat around solar column of one or more embodiments according to open theme The schematic diagram of the birds-eye view of energy field.

Fig. 3 A is the settled date shown in a part of the heliostat field of one or more embodiments according to open theme Mirror cleans the schematic diagram of the elevation view of vehicle.

Fig. 3 B is intersecting with the settled date mirror in heliostat field according to the one or more embodiments for disclosing theme The close-up illustration of mutual burnisher.

Fig. 3 C is intersecting with the settled date mirror in heliostat field according to the one or more embodiments for disclosing theme The close-up illustration of mutual another burnisher.

Fig. 4 is to show the heliostat field with specified driver's compartment of one or more embodiments according to open theme The schematic diagram of birds-eye view.

Fig. 5 is to show to have the reflective mirror in different orientation according to the one or more embodiments for disclosing theme The schematic diagram of the elevation view of heliostat.

Fig. 6 is to be determined according to the one or more embodiments for disclosing theme for safeguarding and/or operating in solar energy field The schematic diagram of the control system of solar eyepiece.

Fig. 7 is shown according to the one or more embodiments for disclosing theme in the solar energy wherein with cleaning vehicle The schematic diagram of the birds-eye view of a part of field.

Fig. 8 is that the animal in a part for the solar energy field for showing one or more embodiments according to open theme is living The schematic diagram of dynamic birds-eye view.

Fig. 9 is the heliostat shown in a part of the heliostat field of one or more embodiments according to open theme Clean the schematic diagram of the elevation view of vehicle.

Figure 10 be show according to one or more embodiments of open theme have heliostat in various orientations and Pass through the schematic diagram of the birds-eye view of a part of the solar energy field of the advance of the cleaning vehicle of solar energy field.

Figure 11 be show according to one or more embodiments of open theme have heliostat in various orientations and The schematic diagram of the birds-eye view of a part of the solar energy field of the advance of vehicle is cleaned by the different sizes of solar energy field.

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

Figure 13 is to show the solar energy of Figure 12 in the time later of one or more embodiments according to open theme The figure of cleaning vehicle in.

Figure 14 is that have the case where heliostat cleans vehicle in field according to the one or more embodiments for disclosing theme Under the solar energy field since the certain altitude of tower a part view.

Figure 15-Figure 21 is to show to be passed through to have ready conditions according to one or more embodiments of open theme channel and to clean too The isometric view of a part of the solar energy field of the cleaning vehicle of the heliostat in positive energy field.

Figure 22 is to show to be had in the different piece of solar energy field according to one or more embodiments of open theme The schematic diagram of the birds-eye view of the solar energy field of different heliostat layouts.

Figure 23 is to show the feature bird of a part of solar energy field of one or more embodiments according to open theme It looks down from a height the schematic diagram of figure, which, which gets a bird's eye view, shows the first heliostat layout patterns in exterior section and in interior section Two heliostat layout patterns.

Figure 24 is to show the heliostat density of one or more embodiments according to open theme having for table 2 The schematic diagram of the birds-eye view of the solar energy field of identified sample position.

Figure 25-Figure 30 is to show to identify various positions according to the one or more embodiments for disclosing theme to be used for The schematic diagram of the birds-eye view of the solar energy field compared.

Figure 31-Figure 32 is according to the one or more embodiments for disclosing theme as the distance for arriving arest neighbors heliostat The chart of the number of the heliostat of function.

Figure 33-Figure 35 is the multiple towers and solar energy field arrangement shown according to one or more embodiments of open theme Birds-eye view schematic diagram.

Figure 36 is the figure according to the single-lens reflex camera light microscopic heliostat of one or more embodiments of open theme.

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

Figure 38-Figure 39 is to show to show the orderly cloth of heliostat according to the one or more embodiments for disclosing theme The schematic diagram of the birds-eye view for the solar energy field set.

Figure 40 is to show to have different heliostat cloth according to the various parts of one or more embodiments of open theme The schematic diagram of the birds-eye view of solar energy field in the case where setting.

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

Figure 42-Figure 43 is to respectively illustrate the first and second solar energy of one or more embodiments according to open theme The schematic diagram of the feature birds-eye view of the northeast part of field.

Figure 44-Figure 45 is to respectively illustrate the first and second solar energy of one or more embodiments according to open theme The schematic diagram of the feature birds-eye view of the Counties of North-west Five of field.

Figure 46-Figure 47 is to respectively illustrate the first and second solar energy of one or more embodiments according to open theme The schematic diagram of the feature birds-eye view of the southeast part of field.

Figure 48-Figure 49 is to respectively illustrate the first and second solar energy of one or more embodiments according to open theme The schematic diagram of the feature birds-eye view of the southwestern part of field.

Figure 50 is different anti-according to having for the time in different one day for the one or more embodiments for disclosing theme The elevation view of heliostat in the case where light microscopic arrangement.

Figure 51 is to cause one part in heliostat to hide according to being in for one or more embodiments of open theme The elevation view of a pair of of the heliostat for the first spacing covered.

Figure 52 is a pair in the second spacing for not resulting in masking according to one or more embodiments of open theme The elevation view of heliostat.

Figure 53-Figure 54 is respectively illustrated according to one or more embodiments of open theme since the top of tower too The positive energy interior section of field and the northern view of exterior section.

Figure 55-Figure 56 is respectively illustrated according to one or more embodiments of open theme since the top of tower too The positive energy interior section of field and the southern view of exterior section.

Figure 57-Figure 58 is to show the first and second solar energy fields of one or more embodiments according to open theme The schematic diagram of the birds-eye view of a part.

Figure 59 is shown according to the one or more embodiments for disclosing theme for moving within the scope of single row of heliostats Maintenance vehicle configuration.

Figure 60 shows motor-driven to be cleaned between heliostat according to one or more embodiments of open theme Articulated vehicle.

Figure 61 is shown in which identification various positions and associated region to explain the statistical property of the embodiment of open theme Field layout.

Figure 62 A to Figure 65 B shows the comparison between the calculating property of each field.

Figure 66 and Figure 67 is shown for the purpose for the different characteristic for illustrating open embodiment corresponding to the prior art and public affairs Open the field layout of embodiment.

Figure 68 shows field layout for the purpose that optimization is discussed.

Specific embodiment

Embodiment of the disclosure is generally directed to maintenance and/or operate the solar energy field of solar power system is System, method and apparatus.Particularly, this disclosure relates to power plant magnitude (magnitude) system rather than navigation system.For example, Peaking flux power level to tower and/or total flux of 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.

Maintenance vehicle can be driven by solar energy field and/or the heliostat operated in a specific way to realize heliostat Cleaning.Safeguard vehicle control and/or heliostat operation can make damage such as desert tortoise native country animal and/or its dwell A possibility that breath ground, reduces and/or minimizes.Therefore, can promote solar energy field with by cover compromised of protection plan and/ Or endangered species or animal coexist.Although discussing above in association with desert tortoise, which can be used to the life to vegetation Length is reacted, which can move or dead and reappear in different positions.

Maintenance vehicle can pass through solar energy field on the permanent channels in solar energy field.It additionally or alternatively, can be with Maintenance vehicle can be along channel of having ready conditions (that is, the certain maintenance when heliostat is orientated and aims at the receiver in solar column The channel that vehicle normally will not pass through via the channel) it arranges and controls in heliostat by way of solar energy field It is at least some of.

To allow the maintenance vehicle across solar energy field that can make close to the arrangement of the heliostat of heliostat and control It can be realized and arrange different heliostat pattern with conventional.Particularly, more orderly and highdensity pattern (i.e. office can be used It is limited to line or arc) it arranges for example close to the heliostat in a part of the solar energy field of solar column, while can use The relatively less orderly pattern of certain line or arc is not limited to arrange in the solar energy field for example away from solar column Heliostat in another part.By controlling certain heliostats with open in the solar energy field for safeguarding vehicle have ready conditions it is logical Road is obtained to the close of the heliostat in any one part.It can make the density and arrangement of the heliostat in the various parts of field It optimizes to improve and/or maximize solar energy generation and/or income and generate.It can not consider about the symmetrical of basic orientation Property in the case where select heliostat density/arrangement.Particularly, for the density of heliostat, number, total reflector size And/or average reflector size can be for having compared to more inefficient (i.e. for the target in tower of given reflector size Locate reflection insolation amount) solar energy field region for it is bigger than the heliostat in another region of solar energy field, this is Such as due to cosine losses associated with the geographical location of heliostat or other factors.Additionally or alternatively, it is used for Density, number, total reflector size and/or the average reflector size of heliostat can be in some regions of solar energy field It is bigger so that the amount of the amount of power generation and/or the insolation being directed at target and/or it is one day one or more in the time and/or (such as the uniform outer surface temperature or uniform heat for the receiver in tower are logical for the homogeneity condition of time in one or more 1 years Amount) it optimizes.

Referring now to Figure 1, showing the diagram of solar column system.It can be by solar column system configuration at for example generating Solar steam and/or the fluid of such as fused salt or gas are heated.The system may include solar column 18, determine from independent The reception of solar energy field 16 of solar eyepiece 12 (two only being shown, although actual field may include thousands of heliostats 12) is reflected poly- Burnt daylight 10.Solar energy receiver 20 can be mounted on solar column 18.Solar energy receiver 20 may include such as cloth Set at various height or at position and/or serve the independent receivers of one or more of different function.It can be by solar energy Receiver 20 is configured to water and/or steam and/or overcritical using the insolation 14 being reflected on receiver 20 by heliostat 12 Steam heating.For example, solar column 18 can be at least 25 meters of height, at least 50 meters of height, at least 75 meters of height or even higher.In Certain components are only illustrated in Fig. 1 in order to be illustrated and discuss.The physical embodiments of solar column system may include for example additional Optical element, control system, sensor, pipeline, generator and/or turbine, are not shown in Fig. 1.

In embodiment, auxiliary reflector can receive reflected insolation 10 from heliostat 12.Auxiliary reflector is then Insolation can be reflected down to positioned at ground level or the receiver near it.It in embodiment, can be in single solar energy field Two or more solar columns 18 are provided in 16 or in each solar energy field 16.Each tower 18 can be steamed with such as solar energy system Each solar energy system receiver of vapour receiver is associated.In embodiment, at any given time, given heliostat can be made It is directed toward the solar energy receiver of any one of tower.

In embodiment, more than one solar energy receiver 20 can be mounted in tower 18.Adjustable heliostat It aims at so that the mass center of the reflection beam 10 projected at tower 18 is moved to together from one in the solar energy receiver in tower 18 Another in solar energy receiver in one tower.Solar energy receiver 20 may include steam generator, steam superheater, steaming Vapour reheater, photovoltaic panel, fused salt receiver, air receiver machine, helium receiver, particle receiver are configured to the sun It can be converted into any combination of any other receiver electrically or thermally.

Fig. 2 be include independent heliostat field 16 solar energy system embodiment simplification birds-eye view.It should be noted that This view is not drawn on scale and has been simplified for the sake of being illustrated.Note that can relative to tower 18 along concentric channels Heliostat is arranged with radial symmetric pattern in the case where arrangement heliostat.In embodiment, the settled date can periodically be cleaned Mirror.Alternately or additionally, the additional maintenance of one or more that such as heliostat is repaired or replaced can one by one be executed Most of or all reflective mirrors of the operation into heliostat field.Thus and Fig. 3 A is referred to, maintenance vehicle 30 can be provided to mention For to each heliostat 12 or part thereof of close, such as reflecting surface of reflective mirror 13.Maintenance vehicle 30 can be automatically Change robotic vehicle, operated by the driver in vehicle 30 or is operated by the driver (passing through remote control) far from vehicle 30. It vehicle-mountedly can include that controller 32 enables to realize the control of long-range and/or robot on maintenance vehicle 30.

Maintenance vehicle 30 can advance along the driving path between heliostat 12A, 12B, be sufficiently spaced with Vehicle 30 is allowed to pass through.For example, maintenance vehicle 30 can have the maximum width less than the distance between heliostat 12A, 12B D₃₀.Heliostat 12A, 12B can be spaced sufficiently apart, even if heliostat 12A, 12B are most when angled or aiming receiver The distance between outer portion D_12ABIt is still greater than the width D of vehicle 30₃₀To allow vehicle 30 to pass through.It alternatively, can be by heliostat 12A, 12B are more closely arranged together, so that being orientated at least for certain reflective mirrors, the part of heliostat will be concerned with vehicle 30 It disturbs.In order to allow vehicle 30 to pass through, it can control the reflective mirror of heliostat 12A, 12B to be moved to substantially vertical position, make Obtain the distance between vertical reflective mirror D_maxGreater than the width D of vehicle₃₀。

Although can be what vehicle 30 can be immediately adjacent to adjacent to heliostat 12A, 12B of the driving path of vehicle 30, It can will be far from other heliostats 12C-12E isolation in the path relative to the driving path or hide.Safeguard that vehicle 30 can be with Including heliostat can be crossed to approach the arm 34 that these hide heliostat 12C-12E.Arm 34 can be with generallyperpendicular The part 36A of extension, substantially horizontal part 36B and the generallyperpendicular extension terminated in cleaning actuator 38 The robots arm of 36C.One or more parts of arm 34 can be it is flexible enable to realize can cross adjacent to road The heliostat (such as heliostat 12A, 12B) of diameter is with the variation of the length of close hiding heliostat (such as heliostat 12C-12E). Certainly, according to one or more contemplated examples, can also have for allowing other arrangements close to the arm 34 of hiding heliostat. For example, vehicle 30 can be provided with the hanger of the heliostat for crossing the driving path adjacent to vehicle (referring to Figure 15-figure 21)。

Safeguard vehicle 30 example include but is not limited to clean vehicle, such as promote reflective mirror tilt and other The heliostat of type safeguards vehicle, such as to repair and/or replace settled date mirror.Maintenance vehicle 30 can have length Degree, width and height, each of these is at least 0.5m, at least 1m, at least 1.5m, at least 2m, at least 3m or at least 10m. Safeguard between the different dimensions of vehicle 30 ratio (one i.e. in length, width and height with it is another in length, width and height Ratio between one) it 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 extremely Few 4.Alternately or additionally, the ratio for safeguarding between the different dimensions of vehicle 30 can be at most 0.025, at most 0.5, at most 0.75, at most 1.0, at most 1.25, at most 1.5, at most 2.0, at most 4.0, at most 6.0, at most 8.0 or at most 10.0.Maintenance Vehicle can have any kind of vehicle shape, including but not limited to rectangular prism or substantially cylinder-shaped.

Maintenance vehicle 30 can be relatively large vehicle, and such as platform truck or similar vehicles are (as example in Figure 15-Figure 21 Shown in).According to the size of the size of driver's compartment and maintenance vehicle 30, maintenance vehicle 30, which may not have, to be enough at it along logical Road encounters the space turned round when barrier.Therefore, maintenance vehicle may need to turn round reversed rather than turn to, this may be to tradition Oversize vehicle brings problem.In embodiment, maintenance vehicle can be designed to accommodate in driver's compartment channel readily reversed Operation.For example, maintenance vehicle may include that a pair of of cockpit-front deck and rear deck-allow driver alternately in vehicle Different ends operation vehicle with along desired direction advance.In another example, vehicle 30 can have rotatable cabin, make Obtaining driver can be such that the cabin is rotated into face of desired direction.Alternately or additionally, vehicle 30 can have relative close Turning radius, such as by with four-wheel or multi-wheel steering, to allow vehicle 30 to turn round in driver's compartment.

For the maintenance vehicle on the surface for the reflective mirror 13 for being designed to clean heliostat, the cleaning end 38A of arm 34 can To include for example contacting cleaning element 37, as shown in Figure 3B.Contact cleaning element 37 can contact the surface of reflective mirror 13 so as to Dirt and clast are removed from the surface of reflective mirror.For example, contact cleaning element 37 can include but is not limited to wiper, sponge or Grinding-material.Alternately or additionally, the cleaning end 38B of arm 34 may include for example for mirror surface at a distance of set distance D_35BPlace makes fluid 39 flow to the device on reflective mirror 13.For example, may include one or more for flowing out the device 33 of fluid Nozzle is used to be directed to pressurized fluid on the surface of reflective mirror to remove dirt and clast therefrom.For example, the fluid It can include but is not limited to water or cleaning fluid.

One or more camera 38F can be attached to cleaning actuator 38 and/or can be by one and multiple photograph Machine 30F is attached to vehicle 30 to obtain the image of heliostat.The image can be while vehicle be fixed or is moved from multiple angles Degree obtains image (obtaining multiple views using multiple positions during vehicle movement).The available image of controller and process To calculate position and the orientation of wanting clean heliostat.Image can also be handled to determine the need for cleaning heliostat.It can be with Confirmation heliostat position and orientation are within a predetermined range to allow to clean and/or can accurately and precisely be calculated to control The orientation and positioning of system cleaning actuator 30.

With reference to Figure 59, there is truck 612 center to be directed at pit 620, and truck is allowed to drive in vertical or close upright position On heliostat 606 on travel.Cleaning actuator 608, which can reach heliostat 606, (it is clear can to provide second shown with retracting Clean actuator 610), while extension 614a and 614b are laterally stretched out to use cleaning actuator 618 nearby to determine to clean Solar eyepiece 602.The present embodiment that can be applied to any embodiment described herein be characterized in can making wheel 616 to be spaced apart with To provide broader posture (stance) in the space 622 extended to below adjacent heliostat.Shown in configure and can mention Allow truck 612 along almost adding in the width spaces of single heliostat while for sufficiently wide posture to obtain stability Pass through in track in minimum spacing nargin.The configuration can be extended to the gap 620 for surrounding multiple heliostats, wherein Cleaning actuator is orientable to clean the heliostat around each.

In various embodiments above or in the claims, vehicle or truck can be equipped with curvilinear style pilot (cow Catcher) equipment of formula is harmlessly to make route turning of the animal far from wheel.Blade can have flexible edge to allow Embrace surface.Alternatively, proximity detector (acoustics, infrared or other) can be provided on such pilot (or as replacement) Or imaging device (laser scanner, radar, camera etc.) and a series of fluidic generators are to promote road of the animal far from vehicle Diameter.It is movable below wheel to prevent stop object skirtboard can be provided in side.

Figure 60 shows the motor-driven articulated vehicle to be cleaned between heliostat.In embodiment, vehicle 640 has There is central spine 638, length can be variable.Alternatively, any type of regular length chassis can be used.Pivot support Frame 642 (for example, wheel shaft) allows to operate wheel and passes through around heliostat, with fixed in the region that wherein vehicle is operated Average distance between solar eyepiece is spaced apart.Cleaning part 634 can clean on horizontal or nearly horizontal position or at any other Heliostat on position.Cleaning part 634, which can be, can position and can be directed to.Same configuration 640 can use multiple cleanings Actuator.By the detection of the position of heliostat 630, multiple freedom degrees and complicated control may be implemented.

If there is no the path that any group of reflective mirror for heliostat is orientated, the vehicle roads in solar energy field Diameter can directly be contacted in the case where not contacting or colliding with another heliostat of solar energy field first with heliostat, Heliostat used herein is then considered as to the concealed heliostat relative to certain maintenance.In other words, for the concealed settled date For mirror, it will be required from the original position (or position outside solar energy field) of vehicle to each path of concealed heliostat With the collision of other one or more heliostats in addition to concealed heliostat.Term " concealed heliostat " " is had ready conditions Be close to heliostat " refer to geometric properties and solar energy field of the particular vehicle based on the vehicle heliostat geometric properties and The ability for being laid out and being contacted with heliostat.When it is concealed for thinking heliostat, for in solar energy field at All possible settled date reflective mirror orientation/configurations of all heliostats of group, prevented with other heliostats vehicle with it is concealed fixed Contact between solar eyepiece.As discussed below, when heliostat is to have ready conditions come-at-able, this is referred to only in certain conditions Under (i.e. reflective mirror orientation/configuration) prevent and the contact of the heliostat of solar energy field.

When being known as being contacted with specific heliostat by vehicle above, this refers to vehicle body along vehicle Reach heliostat at the position of driving path and not by slender arm 34 is used and directly contacts the ability of heliostat.Cause This is referred in the main body of vehicle and/or (or vehicle on wheel when vehicle 30, which is designated as, to contact specific heliostat Rut or pedal or pedal for crawler type/pedal driving vehicle) position and/or vehicle mass centre 4m or 3m or Any position on vehicle in 2m or 1m physically can contact or touch specific heliostat.

Certain heliostats can stop safeguard vehicle 30 concealed heliostat is immediately adjacent to because heliostat with Relatively intensive mode is relatively closely disposed between each other, and the reflective mirror of heliostat is sufficiently large, to stop adjacent heliostat Between pass through and/or heliostat is to dispose (such as staggeredly or to be not limited to global line or arc with specific geometric ways Pattern), mobility of the maintenance vehicle between heliostat can be limited (such as due to the turning radius of vehicle or the ruler of vehicle It is very little).

In embodiment, the heliostat 12 in solar energy field 16 or in the specific part of solar energy field 16 can be arranged to So that the insufficient space between adjacent heliostat is so that maintenance vehicle passes through in-between.Safeguard that vehicle therefore can be via fine The driver's compartment or lane that ground defines pass through solar energy field 16 or part of it.Referring now to Figure 4, heliostat 12 is with relatively intensive Deployment arrangements so that on the scene 16 a part, maintenance vehicle may not be able to be from there through.One or more driver's compartments 42 can be radially oriented, at the same one or more driver's compartments 40 can be it is substantially annular centered on the solar column 18 Region.Although driver's compartment 40 and 42 is illustrated as continuously, driver's compartment being divided into various sections, so that area 40 And/or 42 exist only in certain parts of field 16, and continuous therefore not by field.

Driver's compartment can be defined relative to one or more dimensions of maintenance vehicle 30, because can form for opposite The thing of the driver's compartment of smaller vehicle may not form the driver's compartment for relatively large region.It, can in solar energy field 16 At least most or most of (for example, at least 80% or 90% or 95% or 99% or more) of solar energy field 16 is considered as " nothing The a part in driving " area.Maintenance vehicle 30 cannot approach or pass through " no to drive " area, so that the animal into solar energy field provides Shielding and/or No Attack Area.Therefore, it greatly reduces and/or minimizes due to the movement in solar energy field and animal is made A possibility that at damage.

In addition, the arrangement of heliostat can permit the movement that animal passes through solar energy field 16, even if heliostat is close wherein In possible sizable " no to drive " area of degree.Referring now to Figure 5, showing the heliostat 12 that reflective mirror 13 is in different orientation. When reflective mirror 13 is in substantially vertical orientation, heliostat provides minimum vertical headroom H₁.For example, vertical clearance H₁It can be 200cm, 0.5m, 1m or be enough to provide for animal reflective mirror below by headroom any other value in the range of.It replaces It changes ground or in addition, vertical clearance can be different from shown in Fig. 5 based on the minimum point of the reflective mirror 13 during normal operating Substantially perpendicular orientation.

Region below heliostat 12 is limited in substantial horizontal orientation by reflective mirror 13, to define One horizontal clearance L₁With the second horizontal clearance L₂, each there is one fixed width (not shown), wherein animal can not be by heliostat 12 and/or maintenance vehicle 30 stop ground freely roam leisurely.Reflective mirror 13 is maintained at specific orientation by the support construction 15 of such as pyller. Support construction 15 provides length L that will not be excessively close with animal at ground level₃With the barrier of width (not shown). However, length L₃Substantially less than length L₁And L₂, to allow at least most or most of of the region below heliostat 12 It is come-at-able for such as animal of desert tortoise.It should be noted that the desert animal of including but not limited to desert tortoise tends to In the vertical clearance H than being provided by heliostat₁It is short.

Solar power system (including in solar energy field heliostat and/or power generation) attended operation and/or practical behaviour The control of work can be based on many factors, including but not limited to cleaning time table, animal information and optimize energy production. For example, the control 60 of maintenance and/or the operation of solar energy field also optionally examines zoologic certain information 62 with reference to Fig. 6 Including worry.In addition, storage (can be by the control 60 of maintenance and/or the operation of solar energy field with control in memory, for example System 60 separates together or with control system 60) information 64 and information 66 about solar energy field 16 itself take into account.Control System 60 therefore can hinged output end 68 so as to safeguard (such as cleaning, repair or replacement heliostat) and/or control it is (such as fixed Solar eyepiece aims at or boiler attendance) solar energy field 16.

About animal information 62, control system 60 can be taken into account one or more different factors, including but unlimited In observed animal position, the animal position predicted, observed animal is mobile, the animal predicted is mobile, observed Animal habitat position and/or the animal habitat position predicted.For example, radio transmitter or other mark-ons can be used Label mechanism tags to the animal in solar energy field 16, so that the position of transmitter or label is enough to describe the position of animal. In another example, radar, sonar, ultrasonic wave, infrared thermoviewer and/or visual light imaging device can be used to monitor animal Position and/or movement.In another example, it can be used about the data of animal position or movement and predict animal when later Between section position, with predict animal in the movement of period later, or prediction animal or animal habitat ground used area position It sets and shape (see below discussion associated with Fig. 8).Prediction can be executed by control system 60 or as being input to A part of the animal information 62 of control system 60.

The combination of one or more image processing techniques or image processing techniques can be used to determine and/or predict animal Position, movement and/or habitat.For example, can be at one or more positions in solar energy field 16 and/or in any maintenance On vehicle 30 and/or the imaging vehicle smaller and/or more movement of vehicle (safeguard) and/or can be to solar energy field 16 Still image and/or a series of images are obtained using one or more cameras at any other position that a part is imaged (such as video).One non-limiting example of such image processing techniques is related to moving inspection used by digital camera is general Test case journey.In another example, it safeguards the database of the image of one or more " target species ", and can attempt come from The candidate image (it may include or can not include animal) of solar energy field in for example in imminent danger or threatened species target One or more images in the database of the image of species are matched.It may include such data in such as memory 64 Library.

Alternatively, the sound system or passive audio detection and pattern-recognition that such as acoustics imaging can be used come to animal Mobile and location information and event are positioned and are identified.For example, can be gone forward side by side by obtaining audio from multiple location microphones Row triangulation determines position to determine position and speed.It can be based on animal behavior and current location and track and history The model of position and trace information generates other predictive information.Wherein describing all embodiments of optical means and equipment In, it should be understood that these can be replaced with such acoustic method and equipment in feasible situation and is identified most with providing Function afterwards.It (can including radar, infrared ray, the visible or non-of ultraviolet imaging data further, it is possible to use satellite or air-borne imagery Light-exposed spectrum) come predict other weakness zones being concerned about animal movement, and can be provided as input to as described above System is to be used for route planning.

In embodiment, the image in the region of solar energy field 16 and/or any other physics reading can be classified as (i) Indicate that the presence of non-domestic animal and/or (ii) do not indicate the presence of non-domestic animal.This classification can depend on coming the physics reading of self-fields And/or for determining that there are one or more threshold values of the time of animal in data instruction solar energy field.The value of these threshold values can With depend on " wrong report (false positive) " (i.e. when not actually existing animal, animal determines that animal dis exists) and with " failing to report (false negative) " (determining that animal is not present when there are in fact animal) associated cost.It can be with base These threshold values are determined in each species, wherein giving more considerations in imminent danger or threatened species (can such as cause more The lower threshold value of wrong report.The information about animal information 62 for being supplied to control system 60 may include coming from operator or special The input of family (such as naturalist).For example, can to operator provide solar energy field each section image with In further classification, that is, determine animal whether be actually must more Low threshold endangered species.

The position on animal habitat ground can be detected in many ways.In one example, naturalist can be with It artificially walks in solar energy field 16 and with identifying animal habitat 74 position, including is likely located at underground and is subjected to maintenance cart Broken ring habitat.In another example, it can manually and/or automatically obtain and manually and/or automatically divide Analyse image.In another example, the movement of animal is tracked over time, and animal is determined based on the result of tracking Dwelling/habitat position (see, for example, discussion associated with Fig. 8).

In addition to the database of animal painting, memory may include various parts or the different schemes of solar energy field 16 Image uses for control system 60 when determining maintenance or control output 68.Additionally or alternatively, it can also will be utilized The cleaning historical storage of heliostat and/or driver's compartment is in memory.As being described more fully, certain can be left A little heliostats do not clear up or certain driver's compartments may due to animal or its habitat presence and impassabitity.Memory 64 This information be can store for the access of control system 60.For example, control system 60 can be directed to cleaning, again aiming or compensate Dirty heliostat and when heliostat being prioritized and/or selected driver's compartment or replacement driver's compartment to clean heliostat Use this information.

Additionally or alternatively, control system 60 can receive the information 66 about solar energy field so as to determine maintenance and/or Operation output 68.For example, solar energy field information 66 can include but is not limited to the position of the heliostat 12 in solar energy field 16, determine The desired operation (such as solar tracking information) of solar eyepiece 12, maintenance vehicle dimension, maintenance vehicle location (such as the position along path Set), for certain maintenance vehicle permanent driver's compartment position (such as driver's compartment 40 or 42 in Fig. 4) and for specific Safeguard vehicle driver's compartment of having ready conditions (such as more fully hereinafter describe only by the way that heliostat is redirected available driving Area) position.It can be by memory module 64 and the combination of solar energy field information module 66 in individual module (not shown), together Group is combined into a part of control system 60, is individually integrated into a part of control system 60 or as individual combination storage Device-field information module.

Optional animal information 62, memory module 64 and/or solar energy field information module 66 can be used in control system 60 To determine maintenance and/or operation standard for solar energy field 16.The output 68 from control system 60 can be made to be directed toward the sun Can field 16 one or more components, such as independent heliostat 12, maintenance vehicle 30 and/or solar power system it is any its His component or system.For example, output 68 may include the instruction or control algolithm for cleaning the heliostat in solar energy field.It should Control system 60 can determine that the cleaning of heliostat selects special modality sequentially or along specified maintenance vehicle driver's compartment, such as To avoid the animal or habitat safeguarded in vehicle driver's compartment.Heliostat cleaning history can be used to determine in pre- timing Between in section not yet by the priority of clean certain heliostats.

It additionally or alternatively, can be by (or another control system based on the output from control system 60 of control system 60 System) come control the behaviour of heliostat be explained its maintenance or lack.For example, dirty heliostat can received with lower efficiency Insolation is reflected at machine 20.Other heliostats can be made to aim at again to compensate the reflected flux of the reduction as caused by dirty heliostat. Optimization can be executed by control system 60 to aim at clean or dirty one or more of heliostat again, to protect Hold the temperature uniformity of receiver 20.Can make dirty heliostat be redirected at the less crucial region of the temperature of receiver or Different receivers, such as evaporator portion.Control system 60 can also control certain heliostats 12 and is currently undergoing with compensating Other heliostats of maintenance.For example, can make in the second part of solar energy field when cleaning a part of solar energy field Heliostat aimed at again to the throughput loss compensated at receiver 20 during cleaning.

Control system 60 can also control heliostat and relocate for cleaning.For example, the anti-of heliostat 12 can be made Light microscopic 13 redirects to substantially vertical position to allow to be cleaned by maintenance vehicle 30.The independent settled date can also occur The reflective mirror 13 of mirror 12 is redirected to allow to have ready conditions driver's compartment for certain maintenance vehicle and use.For example, can make basic On adjacent to the reflective mirror 13 of the heliostat 12 for driver's compartment of having ready conditions redirect to substantially vertical position to allow to safeguard Vehicle 30 passes through.Additionally or alternatively, it can control heliostat, to avoid to any latent of the animal being located in solar energy field It is destroying.For example, if animal in solar energy field have be enough to contact heliostat for certain reflective mirrors orientation it is reflective The height of mirror 13, then control system 60 can control the heliostat around animal to avoid those reflective mirrors orientation.

Control system 60 can be with the operation of the maintenance vehicle 30 in controlling filed.For example, can be according to there are the thresholds of animal Value or level of confidence carry out the speed of the maintenance vehicle 30 in limiting field, even if animal is not determined to currently drive in maintenance vehicle It sails in area.If estimation there is only lesser animal dis a possibility that, can permit animal vehicle 30 be subjected to one or It is operated in the specific region of the solar energy field of multiple constraints.Such constraint can include but is not limited to constraint of velocity, to clean The maximum flow rate of water or clean solution when the use of the water or clean solution of heliostat, cleaning heliostat, noise constraints and/or Safeguard other operating parameters of vehicle.

Referring now to Figure 7, maintenance vehicle 30 is operated in solar energy field 16 for example by the reflective of cleaning heliostat 12 Heliostat 12 is safeguarded on the surface of mirror 13.Maintenance vehicle 30 can permanently be driven by the permanent driver's compartment 42 of radial directed and vertically Area 40 is sailed to come close to solar energy field 16.Therefore the various sections of heliostat 12 are separated from each other and allow to safeguard by driver's compartment 40 and 42 Vehicle 30 is close to heliostat.Safeguard that the operation of vehicle can depend on the animal or such as of such as tortoise 72 in specific driver's compartment 40 The position on the animal habitat ground in cave 74.As maintenance vehicle 30 advances along driver's compartment 40, if it encounters habitat 74, It is turned back and is attempted along its road around habitat 74.For example, maintenance vehicle 30 can from top close to habitat, thus Can close to its by from bottom close to and the heliostat that cannot reach.If safeguarding vehicle 30 when advancing along driver's compartment 40 Mobile animal 72 is encountered, then can reduce cleaning speed to provide animal before maintenance vehicle 30 reaches the position and leave and drive Sail the sufficient time in area 30.

Alternately or additionally, maintenance vehicle 30 can wait straight before advancing along the channel of design in driver's compartment 40 Driver's compartment is left to animal.The time in driver's compartment can be determined in view of being blocked by animal based on estimation animal and be waited Or pursue replacement channel.It can be according to species identification (for example, estimation tortoise will spend in driver's compartment than the animal faster moved More time), the time and/or carry out this estimation for the historical record speed in the solar energy field of particular animals in 1 year. In the case where estimating that time quantum is less than predetermined threshold, then safeguard that vehicle can suspend along channel until animal is not logical in blocking Road.Otherwise, maintenance vehicle can advance along replacement channel to avoid blocking.

In another example, it can control control system 60 so that the extended period will be reached in the channel in response to animal Prediction probability calculated avoids cleaning in the case where the operation of solar column system requires the flux from heliostat Certain heliostats.Therefore can by the cleaning of heliostat postpone a period of time, such as a few houres, several days, several weeks or other Period.Time between the identification and cleaning of dirty heliostat can be stored in such as memory 64 and be stored in response to this Data carry out cleaning scheduling (such as being prioritized).Mirror surface due to not cleaning heliostat may be dirty, so fixed Solar eyepiece may less effectively, to reduce system effectiveness in terms of insolation to be directed to tower 18；However, in solar energy field by Threaten or endangered animal species coexist can overweight system effectiveness this reduction.

Referring now to Figure 8, grid system 88 can be added in a part of solar energy field 16, animal 72 is confirmed as In the part.The position of animal or animal population can (continuously or discretely) be monitored over time, such as Use the wireless lebal for being attached to representative animal 72 or multiple animals.Animal 72 can be along the channel in solar energy field 80 advance.In each equal time portion, the point 86 along channel 80 can recorde.The aggregation of point 86 can imply that certain bits Setting is habitat 74 for animal 72.For example, the position of the point 86 in grid 82 implies that animal 72 will be in this 82 moderate of grid Spend its most of the time.Therefore grid 82 can be classified as to have habitat 74 wherein, and can forbid safeguarding vehicle 30 pass through grid 82.Additionally or alternatively, can be referred to by unrelated with grid and arbitrary shape 84 comprising many time points 86 Surely position is inhabited.

Alternately or additionally, it can analyze the daily or annual Move Mode of animal 72 to predict position/shifting of animal 72 Position that is dynamic or determining habitat 74.For example, the movement of animal (or one group of animal) can be monitored within a predetermined period of time, such as Several days, one week, one month or even some months.Based on this data, the letter of time in time or 1 year in one day can be used as Number come predict animal or fauna be normally at where.Therefore can forbid safeguarding that vehicle enters predicted position at those times. For example, tortoise may the time (or specific time in 1 year) spends more time in the first region earlier on daytime, and And (or another time in 1 year) spends more time in the second area when closer to night.Therefore can forbid tieing up Protect earlier time of the vehicle in one day carried out in the second area in the first region or when closer to night operation or It is at least allowed to operate with certain constraints.

In embodiment, there may be accessible for having ready conditions for certain maintenance vehicle 30 in the field of heliostat 12 16 Channel or driver's compartment 90 of having ready conditions.Driver's compartment 90 of having ready conditions refers at the reflective mirror 13 adjacent to the heliostat 12 of driver's compartment The only come-at-able special modality by solar energy field 16 of certain maintenance vehicle 30 when specific orientation.For example, with reference to Fig. 9, In There is driver's compartment 90 of having ready conditions between a pair of of heliostat 12 of solar energy field 16.When the reflective mirror of heliostat 12 is in basic horizontal Orientation 13_HWhen, safeguard the width W of vehicle_BGreater than the width between the end of reflective mirror, to prevent maintenance vehicle along channel 90 pass through.When the reflective mirror of heliostat 12 is in substantially vertical orientation 13_vWhen, safeguard the width W of vehicle_BLess than heliostat branch The distance between support structure 15 W_HC, to allow to safeguard that vehicle passes through along channel 90.

Heliostat used herein may include single reflective mirror (see, for example, 36) or can rotate series connection with rigid body The mirror assembly of one or more reflective mirrors (referring to Figure 37) of ground rotation.The mirror assembly 13 of specific heliostat 12 can be with Have in given time by for example orderly coordinate pairThe orientation of restriction, wherein θ_iIndicate the elevation angle AndIndicate azimuth.Heliostat 12 can have one or two rotary freedom, and can retouch according to the elevation angle/azimuth It states or indicates the rotation in any other manner.

In order to safeguard that vehicle 30 passes through along channel 90 of having ready conditions, do not need for reflective mirror to be arranged in substantially vertical position Set 13_v.It is different from vertically on the contrary, heliostat 12 can be designed and arranged to permission reflective mirror 13 with maintenance vehicle 30 and be in Angle.For example, can be by the width W at the top for safeguarding vehicle 30_TWith the width W at the bottom of maintenance vehicle 30_BIt is designed to i.e. Make to work as reflective mirror 13 and vertical 13 as shown in Figure 9_vWhen differently positioning, also allow to safeguard that vehicle 30 passes through along channel 90.

On the contrary, the heliostat 12 in the other parts of field 16 can be closely spaced together, so that even if working as reflective mirror 13 are arranged in substantially perpendicular orientation 13_vWhen, the distance between adjacent heliostat support construction 15 W_HBAgain smaller than maintenance cart Width W_B.Therefore, there may be insufficient distances between heliostat to allow to safeguard that vehicle 30 passes through regardless of reflective How is mirror orientation.The close size, the heliostat 12 that depend on safeguard vehicle 30 of the certain maintenance vehicle between adjacent heliostat Size, the structure of heliostat 12, separating distance between the arrangement of heliostat 12 and/or heliostat 12 combination.It can incite somebody to action Such heliostat is known as concealed heliostat, because it is maintenance, vehicle 30 is not directly close.

Figure 10-Figure 11 be related to wherein safeguarding vehicle 30 can and also do not pass through in the region occupied by heliostat 12 Condition.In Figure 10-Figure 11, the center (or mass center or support construction) of each heliostat is depicted as dot, heliostat it is anti- Light microscopic 13 is represented as rectangle, can rotate around the dot, and the motion range of the reflective mirror 13 in plan view is by table The circle being shown as around dot.Figure 10-Figure 11 has been simplified and has assumed that the region of each heliostat is continuous and is shaped as circle. This rough schematic view should not be construed as limiting.In addition, Figure 10-Figure 11 is related to the projection from 3d space to the space 2D, i.e., Plane or birds-eye view.It will be appreciated that the blocking feature of any heliostat can be with related with the 3D heliostat of any shape Any mode application.Therefore the mirror assembly of heliostat can have any shape, and heliostat itself can have and appoint What is configured.

As shown in the left side of Figure 10, vehicle 30 can be along channel 90 of having ready conditions across solar energy field, because adjacent to logical The reflective mirror 13 of the heliostat 12 in road 90 due to reflective mirror 13 orientation and at the distance bigger than the width of vehicle 30.So And when reflective mirror 13 is differently oriented about the group 100 of heliostat 12, channel is blocked and vehicle 30 is prevented to pass through group 100, as shown in the right side of Figure 10.It is noted that while the reflective mirror 13 in group 100 as shown implys that vertical orientation, But the diagram also may indicate that the reflective mirror 13 in any other orientation in substantial horizontal orientation or obstruction channel.

Referring now to Figure 11, the arrangement of the heliostat 12 combined with the size of maintenance vehicle 30A can make unconditionally Ground resistance keep off a car a 30A pass through heliostat 12 section 110.Even if vehicle 30A can in bottom row by a pair of of heliostat (that is, There are enough width gaps), due to blocking as caused by the heliostat in the second row, vehicle can also be prevented to further pass through .Particularly, between heliostat arrangement and the length and width of vehicle 30A that combines of spacing prevent vehicle 30A along It turns to avoid the collision with the heliostat in the second row in channel.

On the contrary, maintenance vehicle 30B shorter than maintenance vehicle 30A, but width having the same in length.Although preventing from safeguarding Vehicle 30A passes through the field of heliostat 12 by section 110, but safeguards that vehicle 30B can be along having due to the size that it reduces Condition channel 114 is mobile.It should also be noted that can control the heliostat 12 adjacent to channel 114 of having ready conditions and keep it again fixed To turn and move along it is adapted to before channel 114 in turn with maintenance vehicle 30B.

Finally, maintenance vehicle 30C in length shorter than maintenance vehicle 30A or 30B, but maximum width having the same and Round front shape.Although maintenance vehicle 30B may force the heliostat needed adjacent to its channel 114 as it passes through field Redirect, but safeguard vehicle 30C be it is sufficiently small, the reflective mirror 13 made it possible in heliostat 12 is maintained at unanimously It turns in the case where on position and is moved along channel 116.Therefore, the concept of concealed heliostat and/or concealed position is (right Than accessible heliostat or the accessible position of having ready conditions of having ready conditions) it is the arrangement based on vehicle and heliostat, especially vehicle Size or turning radius.

In embodiment, the island of the concealed heliostat in solar energy field 16 with permanent driver's compartment and/or can have ready conditions Being close to driver's compartment 90 is boundary.For example, as shown in figure 12, a pair of maintenance vehicle 30 can be along the circumference in solar energy field 16 The advance of channel 90 of having ready conditions of orientation.According to one or more contemplated examples, channel 90 of having ready conditions can also be different shape 's.For example, channel 90 of having ready conditions can be along the line of radial directed or tangential orientation, along by field crenellation pattern, Advance along any other pattern or combinations of patterns or even along random.Although along 13 quilt of all reflective mirrors in channel 90 It is shown as in substantially vertical position to allow to safeguard that vehicle 30 passes through, but is also contemplated that reflective mirror 13 according to " immediately (just-in-time) " agreement is operated, therefore is only directed to allow to tie up when safeguarding vehicle close to reflective mirror 13 The position that shield vehicle 30 passes through.Therefore, the major part in channel 90 may be obstructed by reflective mirror 13, continue the reception in collimation tower Machine, until needing to redirect to allow to safeguard that vehicle 30 passes through.

Same " instant " concept can also be applied to the reflective mirror 13 to be safeguarded, such as when replacement mirror assembly When.In other words, concealed heliostat 12 will continue to focus on insolation on receiver, until approaching the clear of specific heliostat 12 It is clean.The additional control of heliostat can take into account the barrier of the heliostat sight during maintenance activity.For example, maintenance one Or multiple heliostats (such as can be stopped using arm 36B) from may not require to safeguard or have been subjected to one or more of maintenance The reflection insolation of a heliostat prevents it from reaching the specified aiming point on the target in tower 18.Therefore, the settled date can provisionally be made Mirror is aimed at again to avoid blocking/masking as caused by arm 36B.

It should also be noted that the position in channel 90 needs not be one group of channel or regular channel, (i.e. as shown in figure 12 is concentric Circular channel).On the contrary, channel 90 can be special channel and/or irregular channel.Safeguard that vehicle 30 can use heliostat Suitable control is close between it to allow by the route of solar energy field 16 to select it.Therefore, at any time, may go out Existing be maintenance vehicle 30 be hidden in inside solar energy field 16 in itself without any specific leaving channel be it will be evident that but It is that the suitable control of heliostat 12 can permit channel as maintenance vehicle 30 is mobile and opens.Such special channel can also be used To avoid the animal and/or its habitat in solar energy field.For example, can be by selectively selecting through the special of heliostat Channel and control maintenance vehicle it is motor-driven around animal and/or animal habitat ground.It can control the settled date along this special channel Mirror is to allow to safeguard that vehicle passes through.

Heliostat 12 far from channel 90 is not that vehicle 30 can be immediately adjacent to；Alternatively, intermediate heliostat prevents direct It is close.Heliostat 12 is hidden in order to reach these, the one or more arm 36B for being attached to maintenance vehicle 30 can cross centre Heliostat 12.Arm 36B may include one or more cleaning end 36C simultaneously to clean multiple heliostats.Clean end 36C It may include brush or short range ejector filler or spraying apparatus, can be grasped in being less than at a distance from 2m between mirror surface in equipment Make.Maintenance vehicle 30 can circumferentially have ready conditions channel 90 continuation, substantially clean heliostat is left on its tail Section 130, as shown in figure 13.

Figure 14 illustrate from close to tower 18 top, i.e. close to the field of the heliostat 12 in terms of the position of receiver 20.Figure 15- Figure 21, which is illustrated, shows the clean series of frames (frame) of the heliostat carried out with one embodiment of maintenance vehicle 150. Particularly, maintenance vehicle 150 can advance along channel 90 of having ready conditions to approach the heliostat 12 in field 16.Adjacent to there is item The heliostat in part channel is oriented along substantially perpendicular directions, so that vehicle 150 be allowed to move along channel 90.On the contrary, remote Heliostat from channel 90 of having ready conditions is oriented along substantially horizontal direction to allow to clean.

It safeguards that vehicle 150 may include one or more cranes 152 with sunpender 156, can reach far from having In the heliostat field in condition channel 90.The cleaning equipment of roll-type cleaning equipment 154 or any other type can be 156 by sunpender It supports and contacts in order to provide with the direct of reflective mirror 13 (referring to Figure 18-Figure 19).One on maintenance vehicle 150 can temporarily be engaged Or multiple ground supports bodies 158 during clean operation to support maintenance vehicle 150.

In embodiment, heliostat density and/or arrangement may not be to be consistent throughout solar energy field 16.On the contrary, Heliostat density can become according to the position in solar energy field 16.For example, the heliostat measured by the heliostat at per unit angle Density can increase compared with the inside of field 16 towards outer edge (i.e. far from tower 18).Heliostat density can be on the scene 16 inside 1.2,1.5,2,3 or 5 times are increased between part and the exterior section of field 16.

The heliostat density of regions/areas section for solar energy field is the different settled dates in the region (or subregion) on land The number of mirror divided by land regions/areas section area.The regions/areas section on land can be any shape, including but not limited to Rectangle, wedge shape, annular, triangle or any other shape.It should be appreciated that in single solar energy field, some regions can be with With certain subregions with larger heliostat density and other subregions with lower heliostat density.For example, more connecing Be bordering on given tower with larger heliostat density and further from one or more towers with lower heliostat density come dispose heliostat can It can be advantageous.

It in another example, can be wherein it is considered that heliostat be less high compared with the heliostat in other regions With bigger close in the region of effect (i.e. due to such as cosine losses or geographical hinder and each heliostat guides less insolation) Degree deployment heliostat.The region of " less efficiently " therefore can have more heliostats to compensate the efficiency of reduction to increase The insolation amount from receiver is directed to from the region of " less efficiently ".It can choose the region and " more of " less efficiently " (or number, average reflector size or the total reflector size of heliostat are one for heliostat density in region efficiently " In a or one day multiple the time and/or it is 1 year one or more in the time substantially the same insolation total amount is directed to receiver Place.In some embodiments it is possible to by opposite with heliostat density, average reflector size or total reflector size is increased The number of heliostat in region of the size of ground or in combination expansion field to increase solar energy field.Such configuration is used in realization The homogeneous flux of receiver in solar column is distributed or uniform temperature distribution aspect may be advantageous.It is disclosed herein to be used for The system and method for determining the position of the heliostat in solar energy field can try to realize for the receiver in solar column Such homogeneous flux distribution and/or uniform temperature distribution.

Although not clearly requiring, any embodiment described herein can refer to " single column " system, wherein with tower 18 are associated and/or are configured to that insolation is made to be redirected to tower 18 or part thereof of heliostat 12 to be substantially only redirected to insolation Single tower 18, even if more than one tower 18 is located at given solar power system place.This feature can be applied to any fixed Solar eyepiece or settled date microscope group (such as northern field heliostat and/or southern field heliostat and/or western field heliostat and/or eastern field heliostat). In certain embodiments, insolation other towers are not redirected to from heliostat associated with single tower 18.

In a period of time (for example, at least 1 week, at least one moon, at least three moon, at least six moon, at least nine moon, extremely Few 1 year, at least 2 years or at least 3 years) in, can actually by make insolation be redirected to solar column 18 heliostat 12 or Heliostat group is arranged so that by heliostat 12, by each heliostat 12 of group or all insolations to be altered course by entire group Other towers 18 are directed toward less than 30%, less than 20%, less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 3% or less than 1% rather than the specified sun It can tower 18.

Any embodiment disclosed herein can refer to " multitower " system, wherein can make it is associated with the first tower too Heliostat in positive energy field is redirected so that insolation to be directed at the second tower.Particularly, in some embodiments it is possible to replace Ground makes the heliostat from solar energy field aim at different towers to realize the uniformity for one or more receivers in tower Target (uniform temperature or homogeneous flux i.e. on receiver surface).In certain one days the time and/or it is 1 year certain in the time, One or more in heliostat associated with the first tower may less efficiently (such as due to cosine losses), if do not obtained To solution, this may cause flux/temperature unevenness.In order to avoid such situation, can make from the second solar column It is related to the first solar column to help compensate for that heliostat aims at (for example, by control system of heliostat or system user) again The less efficient heliostat of connection.In some cases, it is believed that aimed at again to the heliostat of the first solar column It is the heliostat of " more efficient " for the second solar column.Therefore, certain " more efficient " heliostats can be made again It aims at and becomes the heliostat of " less efficient " to realize uniformity objective.

Term is when geometrically efficiently referring to from the size of the independent heliostat in terms of tower and/or in a specific day/year Between by the ratio between the independent heliostat insolation amount reflected and the physical size of heliostat.Therefore, when from be located at the Northern Hemisphere too It is positive when can look down at the top of the tower on field, southern heliostat that may seem to be less than equivalent size due to cosine effect With the northern heliostat of identical positioning.The independent heliostat efficiency parameters for the heliostat that term is disposed in one position refer to In the case where there is no other heliostats in field at the top of tower or near it in terms of target when by the ruler of the heliostat appeared It is very little.The independent heliostat efficiency parameters of term can be interchangeably used with the geometrical efficiency of heliostat.

The distance between tower and heliostat are related to the distance between the mass center of the tower at ground level and the position of heliostat.It is fixed The Horizon that the position of solar eyepiece is defined as heliostat mass center projects downwards.The distance between two heliostats are its respectively positions Between Descartes's distance.The size of heliostat or the area of heliostat are the areas of all reflective mirrors of its mirror array. Certain heliostats may include such as single reflective mirror 13 shown in Figure 36.For these single-lens reflex camera light microscopic heliostats, settled date The size of mirror is the area of single-lens reflex camera light microscopic.Multiple reflective mirror heliostats can have one or more heliostat motor so that anti- Light microscopic is rotated in series to follow the sun.For example, more reflective mirror heliostats may include a pair of of reflective mirror 13A, 13B, such as Figure 37 It is shown.For these more reflective mirror heliostats, size is the sum of the reflective mirror area of all reflective mirrors for heliostat.

Table 1: the example of heliostat size

The total reflector size or total reflector size of heliostat for being deployed in the regions/areas section on land are lands All heliostats (total area of i.e. all reflective mirrors, wherein each heliostat carries in the regions/areas section/sub-segments on ground Mirror assembly with one or more reflective mirrors) total/total size.Various heliostats in this land can be reflective It include any number of reflective mirror in mirror assembly.The heliostat in the regions/areas section for being deployed in land can also be calculated Total reflective mirror density or total reflective mirror density are as total reflector size or total reflector size and land area or sub-district Ratio between the area in domain.Measurement unit for heliostat density is the heliostat number of per unit area, such as every m²'s Heliostat.On the other hand, reflective mirror density is usually dimensionless, such as the reflective mirror area of per unit land area. Basic orientation refers to due north, due east, due south and due west (in any sequence).Referred to as the time of dusk can be in the local sun When 1PM after, any time after 2PM or after 3PM, while its can at sunset, 15 minutes before sunset, Terminate within 30 minutes before sunset, 60 minutes before sunset, before sunset 90 minutes or even before sunset 2 hours.

Position at the top of solar column or near it can at top the height of tower at most 25%, the height of tower Degree at most 20%, at most the 15% of the height of tower, at most the 10% of the height of tower, the height of at most 15% or tower of the height of tower In at most 5% tolerance of degree.(non-is toppled over relative to the non-of one or more targets at the top of tower or near it Dumping) period be that the flux being thus incident on target is the peaking flux being incident on target at most 95%, at most 90%, at most 85% or at most 80% period.This peaking flux can be used as daily peak value for given one day Flux is used as annual peaking flux as monthly peaking flux for given month or for the given time. In general, the non-dumping time section is not at night or in no insolation or extremely low insolation period.During non-dumping time section, The amount of flux can be the peaking flux being incident on the target at the top of tower or near it at least 15%, at least 20%, extremely Few 30%, at least 40%, at least 50% or at least 60%.For example, non-dumping time section can in the morning, afternoon and/or winter Period occurs.However, this is not limitation, and one or more physical parameters of solar power system can be depended on.

When relative to open embodiment come the side's of reference grid, if the turning of square is mesh point, it can make just Square grid in rectangular is aligned with turning.The mesh parameter of the distance between the horizontal and vertical neighbouring mesh point side's of being grid.Ring The side's x% grid in square has mesh parameter, and length is the x% for surrounding the length on side of square.For example, with by Point { (x₁,y₁,(x₁,y₂),(x₂,y₁) and (x₂,y₂) given 1% side's grid around the alignment of the turning of square will be {(x₁,y₁),(x₁+0.01*(x₂-x₁),y₁)、(x₁+0.02*(x₂-x₁),y₁)....(x₁+0.99*(x₂-x₁),y₁),(x₂, y₁),(x₁,y₁+0.01*(y₂-y₁)),(x₁+0.01*(x₂-x_l),y₁+0.01*(y₂-y₁)), etc. } at have mesh point,

Figure 22 is the schematic diagram for indicating to have the solar energy field of heliostat 12, and each heliostat 12 is configured to follow the sun And insolation is made to be redirected to central tower 18.For example, the solar energy field can comprise more than 50,000 heliostat, although according to one Or multiple contemplated examples, there can also be the heliostat of other numbers.Solar energy field 16 may include one or more radial fixed To driver's compartment 42.Circumferential orientation driver's compartment 40 can by the exterior section 220 of heliostat 12 with close to the heliostat 12 of tower 18 Interior section 222 demarcate.Figure 23 shows the close-up illustration of a part of field 16, specifically illustrates in interior section Heliostat 12 in 222 has the arrangement different from those of in exterior section 220.Label on axis in Figure 23 indicate with The distance of tower 18 (as unit of rice).

Figure 24 is identified for 24 different locations in the solar energy field 16 below with reference to heliostat density discussion.Often A position can be such as 100m².Three positions can be arranged along direction substantially northwards in northern section 220N on the scene Set L₁-L₃.Such as three position L can be arranged along the direction of substantially northwest in west section 220W on the scene₄-L₆.It is on the scene West section 220W in along direction substantially westwards can arrange three position L₇-L₉.Such as partly west on the scene In section 220W and partly three position L can be arranged along substantially southwestern direction in southern section 220S on the scene₁₀- L₁₂.Such as three position L can be arranged along direction substantially to the south in southern section 220S on the scene₁₃-L₁₅.Such as Three position L can be arranged along the direction of the substantially southeast in the east section 220E of field₁₆-L₁₈.Such as oriental realm on the scene Three position L can be arranged along direction substantially eastwards in section 220E₁₉-L₂₁.Such as edge in east section 220E on the scene Substantially northeastward can arrange three position L₂₂-L₂₄。

For closest to each position of tower, i.e. L₁、L₄、L₇、L₁₀、L₁₃、L₁₆、L₁₉And L₂₂Center can with tower 18 for example, about at the distance of 350m.For each position, the i.e. L farthest apart from tower₃、L₆、L₉、L₁₂、L₁₅、L₁₈、L₂₁And L₂₄In The heart can be at a distance from for example, about 750m with tower 18.For each other positions, i.e. L₂、L₅、L₈、L₁₁、L₁₄、L₁₇、L₂₀With L₂₃Center can be at a distance from for example, about 550m with tower 18.

The following table 2 shows the heliostat density value of the different location for identifying in Figure 24.The density listed in table 2 Value illustrates can be by the heliostat density design in the different quadrants of field or part at variation, even if otherwise position is with tower Equidistant.In addition, the heliostat density ratio of the position for similarly positioning relative to tower can be for example as at a distance from tower Function and change.For example, north and south heliostat density ratio can increase at a distance from tower.

In order to for example, position L₁₃And L₁It shows in the southern field 220S and northern section 220N at same distance Density is different.It can be for the position similarly positioned in southern section 220S and northern section 220N relative to tower 18 To define north and south density ratio.Particularly, for L₁₃And L₁For；North and south density ratio is 2.32/2.09=1.11.By L₁₄Value and L₂ Value compares to obtain the north and south density ratio of 2/1.66=1.2.By L₁₅Value and L₃Value compares to obtain the south of 1.62/1.25=1.3 Northern density ratio.Therefore, by increasing at a distance from tower 18, between the position (i.e. at a distance from tower 18 is equal) equally arranged North and south density ratio can increase.

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

Heliostat density in the southern part of solar energy field can be more than the heliostat in the northern part of solar energy field Density.The embodiment described in Figure 22-Figure 24 and table 2 can be applied to solar energy field on the Northern Hemisphere.In the Southern Hemisphere, this knot Fruit will be opposite.In other words, in the Southern Hemisphere, the heliostat density in the northern part of solar energy field will be more than solar energy field Southern part in heliostat density.

In on the Northern Hemisphere, southern heliostat may be intended to be weaker than its north correspondence equally positioned due to cosine effect Object.On the contrary, northern heliostat may be intended to be weaker than its south correspondence equally positioned due to cosine effect in the Southern Hemisphere Object.Then it is disposed in the region with weaker heliostat (relative to the region with stronger heliostat) with increased density Heliostat may be advantageous in order to provide additional insolation albedo with compensating or at least partly compensating the weakness.Work as reception When machine has the north and the south of substantially the same size, the south part of solar energy field is (i.e. in geometrically less efficient area Domain) in increased heliostat density can help to realize heat flux more evenly or uniform temperature point on the surface of receiver Cloth.Additionally or alternatively, weaker heliostat may include larger reflective mirror.

Furthermore it is also possible to define thing density ratio.In order to for example, position L₇And L₁₉West at same distance is shown Density in square section 220W and east section 220E is different.It can be in west section 220W and east section 220E In the position that similarly positions relative to tower 18 define thing density ratio.Particularly, for L₇And L₁₉For, north and south density ratio It is 2.14/2.08=1.03.By L₈Value and L₂₀Value compares to obtain the north and south density ratio of 1.88/1.75=1.05.By L₉Value with L₂₁Value compares to obtain the north and south density ratio of 1.52/1.4=1.08.Therefore, it by increasing at a distance from tower 18, equally arranges Thing density ratio between position (i.e. at a distance from tower 18 is equal) can increase.

Heliostat density in the western part 220W of solar energy field can be more than in the east part 220E of solar energy field Heliostat density.The electricity charge for the electricity in afternoon hours can be greater than the electricity charge for the electricity in morning sessions.Therefore, may be used So that the placement of heliostat for example described herein optimizes so that power generation in afternoon and/or insolation in the afternoon maximum to tower 18 Change insolation or the flux to realize aspiration level during several hours in the afternoon on the receiver in tower 18, this can be used for Income or income/field cost function is set to maximize or at least increase.Such income/field cost function can be by the density of heliostat Or the total size or reflective mirror density of number and/or reflective mirror are taken into account, such as with capture the income of each heliostat or Reflective mirror capital cost certain than or other functions.For example, the placement of heliostat can be made to optimize with several small in the afternoon When during around obtain substantially uniform insolation on all flux receiving surfaces of receiver.It in another example, can be with The placement of heliostat is optimized so as to be incident on the solar energy in face of having most inefficient heliostat during several hours in the afternoon Insolation amount or flux on the receiver surface of field areas maximize or at least increase.Afternoon power generation maximization and/or To the insolation in afternoon of tower maximization and/or in the afternoon during realize on the receiver uniform insolation/flux can with morning electricity Power production and/or to tower morning insolation and/or in the morning during realize on the receiver uniform insolation/flux be cost, because The sum of heliostat and/or the total amount of reflective mirror area for that can be deployed in solar energy field may be it is fixed and/or by Constraint.

When design is used for the excellent of power in afternoon with a limited number of heliostat (such as due to budget or geographic constraint) When the solar energy field first generated, heliostat more greater number of than east part is arranged in western part that can be on the scene.Even if field West section in heliostat compared with the heliostat equally positioned in east section on the scene tower receive insolation amount side Face may weaker on an average (i.e. geometrically less efficiently), for generate improve the standard afternoon electric power purpose, should Heliostat arrangement can also these preferred weaker west heliostats.

In order to design solar energy field, cost function can establish, constraint can be included at least two basic orientation The total and/or total reflective mirror area for the heliostat disposed in the solar energy field of the part in (such as north and south, thing).It can require Solar energy field have improve afternoon power generation and/or the raising to target associated with solar column total insolation it is anti- It penetrates, even if altering course with morning power generation and/or from heliostat to the morning insolation of solar column target as cost.In response to this at This function can design the heliostat layout of specified deployment, wherein than along opposite basic orientation in a part on the scene Field a part in there are more heliostats (or bigger heliostat density or bigger average reflector sizes or bigger Total reflector size), for example, the greater number of heliostat in the southern part of field compares the northern part equally oriented. Alternately or additionally, the cost function can be used to design solar energy field, wherein ratio is in oriental realm in west section on the scene More heliostats are disposed in section and/or in the section of west than disposing in the section of east with bigger density.The deployment can be with According to any scheme and/or feature, any combination of scheme and/or feature including but not limited to disclosed herein.

Figure 25 indicates the region for wherein deploying the solar energy field of heliostat.One part of solar energy field can be the north Square area 252.Another part of solar energy field can be southern square area 254, substantially across being with tower 28 The mirror image of the northern areas 252 of the east axis at center.It can make both northern areas 252 and southern region 254 and basic orientation Alignment, i.e. two in figure vertical edges are parallel to North and South direction, and two horizontal sides in figure are parallel to east-west direction.Northern area Both domain 252 and southern region 254 can have substantially the same thing offset, i.e., move from the north and south axis centered on tower 18 Position.It, can be between the vector 259 at the center 256 of the center from tower 18 to northern areas 252 for southern region 252 There are the angles of deviation 257.It, can be at the center 258 at the center from tower 18 to southern region 254 for southern region 254 Similar angle of deviation (not shown) is defined between vector (not shown).Since northern areas 252 and southern region 254 are mutual North and south mirror image, so its angle of deviation 257 must be identical.

The concept in north and south and thing mirror image is illustrated in Figure 26-Figure 27.For the north and south mirror image in the region on land, thing The angle of deviation 267 is identical for two regions on land, such as region 262 and its mirror image 264.For the region on land Thing mirror image, the north and south angle of deviation 277 is identical for two regions on land, such as region 272 and its mirror image 278 's.As shown in Figure 28-Figure 29, multiple subregion 283A-D, 287A-D can be checked, can may not be separated (ginseng See the 293A-B and 297A-B in Figure 29), it is completely contained in northern areas 282 or southern region 284.For example, can be by having There is the small square of center 285A to define the smaller subregion 283A in northern square area 282.

As shown in figure 30, in order to which region 302 is completely maintained in large area 300, region 302 be can be only positioned at by its range On the position of definition.Small square 302 moving range 308 in larger square 300 is with the rail of the point in larger square Mark 306 is boundary, wherein the center 304 in region can be positioned so that region 302 is completely maintained in larger square 300.This Range 308 indicates one group of possible position at the center 304 of small square.

Following paragraphs is suitable for 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 more than that (or all heliostats is total anti-for the sum of the heliostat in the north of tower Light microscopic size).For the system based on the Southern Hemisphere, the sum of the southern heliostat of tower (or all heliostats add up to it is reflective Mirror size) by be more than tower the north heliostat sum (or total reflector size of all heliostats).Therefore can lead to It crosses and exchanges in the north and southern narration to illustrate that this feature will be described below applied to Southern Hemisphere embodiment.

It, can heliostat in the region 283A when the position of region 283A is in northern areas 282 with reference to Figure 28 The north and south mirror image of total reflector size of number and/or all heliostats and the small square 283A in southern region 284 First is carried out between the number of heliostat in 287A and/or total reflector size of all heliostats to compare.It can be directed to Different mirror areas in the north and southern region 282,284 execute it is additional compare, such as 283B and 287B, 283C and 287C with And 283D and 287D.Each comparison can be related to the sum and the small square in south of the heliostat in for example small square 283A The ratio of the sum of heliostat in 287A and/or total reflector size and the south of all heliostats in small square 283A The ratio of total reflector size of all heliostats in small square 287A.

As shown in figure 29, can first compare be related to region 293A, 297A and comparison later be related to region 293B, It executes this when 297B to compare, wherein region 293A, 293B (and 297A, 297B therefore) are overlapped.With reference to Figure 30, may be used also So that region 302 is slided throughout its entire scope 308, for example, by by the mobile minimum amount in region 302 to cover entire scope, So that each point of range 308 is accessed only once by the center 304 in region 302.It can be located at for the center 304 in region 302 Each point in range 308 therein, such as in southern region 294, the north and south mirror-bit at the center 304 of domain of the existence 302 It sets.

For the accessed position in each of the center 304 in region 302 in range 308, in the northern version in region 302 Heliostat in the southern version of the total and/or total reflector size contrast district 302 of heliostat it is total and/or total reflective Another comparison of mirror size.This can be executed for the larger or even infinitely great number destination locations in range 308.Cause This, can execute many comparisons.Compare in some embodiments it is possible to be executed when the center 304 in region 302 is mobile.It replaces It changes ground or furthermore it is possible to so that the center 304 in region 302 is confined to the size equal to range 308, defined just by range 308 5%, 0.1% or 0.01% movement of the length on rectangular side.

Based on this moving distance, the northern subregion of the position open to discussion according in range 308 and its southern mirror image pair One between object group (such as one big group) is answered to compare one by one.This group is compared, most of comparisons in the group can be shown One or more of following characteristics: (1) number of the heliostat in both northern subregion and southern subregion be at least 2, 3,5 or 10 heliostats or at most 12,10,7,5 or 3 heliostats；(2) southern region, the settled date in such as region 287A The sum of mirror and northern areas, heliostat in such as region 283A sum between ratio be 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) Southern region, heliostat for example in the 287A of region total size of sum determine with northern areas, such as region 283A Between total size of the sum of solar eyepiece comparison be 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.For example, in Figure 28, it is single relatively to compare area Total reflector size of the total or all heliostat of heliostat in domain 283A and 287A, second compare can be in region Between 283B and 287B, third relatively can between region 283C and 287C, and the 4th compare can in region 283D and Between 287D.

It can be for the given position defined parameters α in solar energy field.Particularly, α can be defined from given position to tower Distance and the target in central tower or tower height between ratio.Therefore biggish value indicates compared with those of smaller value Apart from the farther position of tower.For example, between large-sized solar field (being greater than 50000 heliostats) and about 130m and 140m Tower height degree, when the distance from specific position to tower is 550m, then α can be between about 3.9 and about 4.25.In embodiment In, northern areas 252 and corresponding southern region 254 most, most of or all can have more than 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 α.

Figure 31-32 illustrates the variation of the density in different zones.Figure 31 indicates the number of the heliostat in northern field, and Figure 32 indicates the number of the heliostat in southern field.Each heliostat arrives the arest neighbors settled date with the relative density in instruction field The distance of mirror.In Figure 31-Figure 32, the number of the heliostat for each nearest neighbor distance (as unit of rice) has been depicted Mesh.It is such as answered from Figure 31-Figure 32 it will be apparent that being had differences between the heliostat arrangement in northern field and southern field.

In embodiment, multiple single column solar energy fields positioned jointly, such as Figure 33 can be provided in single geographical location It is shown.For example, four tower 18A-18D with respective solar energy field 330A-330D can be provided.It in embodiment, can be with Only make each 330A-330D associated with its tower 18A-18D.The heliostat in each field can be only configured to change insolation To its respective tower, the heliostat in 330A will be configured to that insolation is only made to be redirected to tower 18A on the spot.In field 330C, 330C Most southern region 332,334 can be defined in the south of all tower 18A-18D by line 336.Various principles described herein can To be applied to the combination of any 330A-330D or field.Figure 34-Figure 35 is illustrated for the common of tower and solar energy heliostat field The other configurations of positioning.In the example of Figure 35, it is believed that certain parts 352,354 are for specific a line solar energy field Southernmost for 350C, 350D, 350F.In embodiment, from the region of any heliostat or heliostat to its respective tower Distance at a distance from from any heliostat or heliostat field to another in tower ratio can less than 0.9,0.7, 0.5,0.3,0.2,0.1 or 0.05.

In embodiment, the heliostat in one or more of field can be configured to alternatively guide at different towers Insolation is to compensate less efficient heliostat.For example, the tower 18A in Figure 33 can be from the south of tower 18C " borrow " field 330C The heliostat in southern part of the certain heliostats (i.e. more efficient heliostat) to compensate field 330A in part is (i.e. less Efficient heliostat).Therefore the heliostat borrowed from the north part of field 330C (can be existed from for tower 18C The north of tower 18C) it is converted into for tower 18A (i.e. in the south of tower 18A) in geometrically more efficient orientation several Less efficient orientation on what, however, the increased heliostat number in the south for now pointing to tower 18A can be used for compensating field The reduced efficiency of the southern part of 330A, and can be used for promoting the homogeneity condition of receiver, at least when in tower 18A When receiver has the north and the south of substantially the same size.

The point schematic diagram of solar energy field is the figure in proportion for describing the heliostat layout in solar energy field, as a result, with single Dot indicates individual heliostat, is each located at each heliostat position (see, for example, Figure 41-49).Although certain points Schematic diagram usually includes virtual link line or arc (it describes the arc or line that deploy heliostat above it), but and this is not present The requirement of sample.In the point schematic diagram of certain prior art solar energy fields, major part in the non local region of solar energy field or All heliostats are usually to be arranged according to orderly arc layout patterns (see, for example, Figure 38-Figure 39).Show in other prior arts In example, the arrangement of heliostat can be constrained, so that with rule on the straight line of sizable non local part for passing through solar energy field Heliostat is disposed at interval then.In both cases, the heliostat in prior art systems is disposed on line with aturegularaintervals Or on arc/curve.

Figure 38-Figure 39 is related to highly constrained and/or high-sequential layout patterns, is especially constrained to across solar energy The arrangement of the heliostat of deployment on the line or arc of field.On the contrary, the embodiment of solar energy field disclosed herein includes wherein not (i.e. not for specifying the separated global geometry on the boundary in region and/or field in the case where being constrained in any certain line or arc Constraint) make heliostat deployment optimize solar energy field region.Therefore when the point for seeing open solar energy field with bigger ratio When schematic diagram (opposite with the small localized areas in the sizable region for only considering heliostat layout), in the big of solar energy field Non local recognizable significant line pattern or significant arc pattern may be not present apart from interior.

It in embodiment, can be more efficient in the form of such as useful energy of steam, electricity or biomass to promote to be mapped to day The mode of rate conversion arranges heliostat.Can by so that do not make the deployment constraint of heliostat in certain line or the feelings of arc The mode of these farther heliostats is arranged under condition to dispose certain, the most of or essentially all heliostat for being relatively farther from tower And make the efficiency optimization of solar column system.By loosening such constraint and by using one or more optimization routines It (that is, wherein the routine can enjoy more freedom degrees in sizable region of solar energy field, but is not necessarily entire ), improved efficiency can be realized for more orderly placement scheme.

The efficiency of solar energy field can be related to the insolation for the receiver of the function as capital investment cost being directed toward in tower Overall strength or amount.For example, can be used as total reflection ability divided by some measurement of the gross area of the reflective mirror of heliostat to survey Amount efficiency.In addition, from optimize obtained solar energy field may due to the predefined channel by heliostat field shortage more Add and is difficult to keep.The use of driver's compartment of having ready conditions in the region of solar energy field can without in these regions line or arc about Beam allows to safeguard simultaneously the optimization for allowing field to be laid out in the case that vehicle accesses the heliostat in these regions.

Heliostat deployment constraint in the one or more regions for not making solar energy field in the case where certain line or arc, The layout obtained from extensive optimization routine can show one or more of following characteristics:

(1) settled date when watching the point schematic diagram (or quite a few of field) of field, in the perimeter of solar energy field Mirror is not necessarily deployed in global lines layout and/or global arc layout (or combinations thereof).For example, the perimeter of the field of heliostat It can be at least 2 times, 2.5 times, 3 times, 3.5 times or 4 times of the height for tower of distance.

(2) even if total layout patterns of perimeter are not constrained in global lines or arc pattern, also there is no heliostat is necessary The requirement for avoiding local pattern from disposing.Alternatively, the localization pattern of certain amount can be abided by.

For example, certain localization there may be heliostat interrupts crenellation pattern, wherein exist and be interrupted between each other And throughout many heliostat zigzag clusters of entire field deployment.

In embodiment, for calculate heliostat layout method may include global optimization, meta-heuristic and/or its His computing technique.Such calculating of heliostat layout can take wherein heliostat layout to there is no the non local area with field Orderly or arc/line on domain dominates the mode of the associated constraint (being not limited to the deployment on line or arc) of pattern.It can use Relatively high heliostat field insolation changed course efficiency parameters carry out the heliostat layout that characterization result obtains.Optimizing can be based on making Time and/or in 1 year one or more in one or more parts of the time by solar energy field in one or more one days The covered ground or ground masking that the target (or top) for the slave solar column that heliostat is realized is seen maximize.

Figure 38-Figure 39 indicates that first (" field 1 ") is orderly laid out 380,390, wherein heliostat 12 is deployed in central tower In the radial line 384 initiated on the concentric circles 382 of surrounding and/or at tower.Figure 40-Figure 41 indicate be not constrained in certain line or Second (" field 2 ") in heliostat arrangement in each section for the field being optimised in the case where arc.Relative to Figure 38-figure Both second (field 2) in 39 first (field 1) and Figure 40-Figure 41, only illustrates wired number for the sake of being illustrated Heliostat；However, the practical embodiments of solar energy field may include being deployed in for example, about 4km²Area in be more than 50000 Heliostat.The heliostat can have identical shape, size and height.Two fields are all to lead to four radial directions of tower 18 just Road 42 is characterized, for example, as shown in figure 42.

The arc constrained layout (i.e. Figure 42, Figure 44, Figure 46 and Figure 48) of Figure 42-Figure 49 diagram appearance 1 and the optimization nothing of field 2 Comparison between constrained layout (i.e. Figure 43, Figure 45, Figure 47 and Figure 49).Particularly, Figure 43 indicates the northeast part 400NE of field, Figure 45 indicates the Counties of North-west Five 400NW of field, and Figure 47 indicates the southeast part 400SE of field, and Figure 49 indicates the southwestern part of field 400SW。

In on the scene 2, in the heliostat (such as in middle section 402) close to tower 10 and far from the heliostat of tower 17 There is the difference in terms of arrangement between (such as in perimeter 400).It can be fixed by remote heliostat (in perimeter 400) Justice is ratio of the tower at least 2,2.5,3,3.5,4,4.5,5,7.5 or 10-between heliostat distance and the height of tower Heliostat.In middle section 402, can with more orderly, relatively intensive arrangement come arrange heliostat (such as be constrained in line or Arc), while can be optimal not to the deployment of the heliostat made in perimeter 400 in the case where any constraint of line or arc Change.

Multizone scheme can be disposed, wherein for close to the region of tower 18, such as region 402, with certain rule Then lattice disposes heliostat.This regular grid pattern or other kinds of loading (packing) pattern can improve fixed Solar eyepiece is packed into and/or makes its maximization, or even so that used multiple heliostats or excessively total reflective mirror area make every reflective mirror It is cost that area measurement, which maximizes,.In these closed areas, significant heliostat layout patterns can be very well ordered net The close loading pattern of grid pattern, such as triangular grid pattern or hexagon.For further from the region of tower 18, such as region 400, wherein heliostat is far from tower 18, in the case where not considering specific pattern or desired placement scheme, disposes optimal Change.In embodiment, the ground that can be seen for the position (or position on any other ground) at the top of tower or near it Face coverage area and by not requiring the heliostat deployment on line or regular arc/curve (or by requiring the settled date on line or arc Mirror layout but simultaneously further constrained layout thus it requires most of heliostats in aturegularaintervals on line or arc layout) Optimize heliostat layout.This type of optimization can cause for giving the relatively high of heliostat density and/or reflective mirror density It covers on ground caused by horizontal reflective mirror.This realized by the heliostat of one or more positions in solar energy field is opposite High-caliber covered ground can be used for promoting solar radiation useful to the more efficient conversion of useful energy.

The concept of covered ground (or ground masking) is discussed below with reference to Figure 50-Figure 52.It is covered whenever mentioning ground herein Lid (ground masking or ground masking or ground stop) when, be about from solar column height, for example tower should Solar energy field is seen at position at top or near it.When from some region that specific viewing location 500 is guarded the threshing floor, such as from too At the top of positive energy tower 18 or the receiver 20 (or other targets) near it, certain parts on ground will be from viewing location 500 It is visible, and the other parts on ground hide the reflective mirror 13 for being intended to for insolation being directed to the heliostat 12 at receiver 20 It covers.Viewing location 500 can correspond to position of the heliostat 12 while following the sun on the target 20 of its reflection insolation (i.e. Aiming point on target or receiver 20).When the limited area of solar energy field with the heliostat of greater number and/or has than too When the heliostat of the big reflective mirror area in other regions of positive energy field, this, which may cause the wherein limited area, has higher degree Covered ground the case where.

In addition to heliostat density and/or reflective mirror density, for wherein deploy heliostat solar energy field it is specific The covered ground in region can depend on many additive factors, including but not limited to: when (1) in one day in time and/or 1 year Between；(2) geographical location of solar energy field；(3) the practical heliostat cloth of the part of the solar energy field of its covered ground is being analyzed Office (such as the geometry of heliostat, such as the distance between heliostat, connect heliostat vector angle or heliostat layout Any other aspect)；(4) size, shape or height of each heliostat；(5) (or its height and position can be with for the height of tower It is the height that may not be the viewing location being overlapped with the position of solar energy target such as receiver 20)；And (6) from solar energy Distance of the tower to the part (determining or analyzing the part of its covered ground) of solar energy field.

It in embodiment, can be for the time in time and/or 1 year in one or more one day in solar energy field One or more positions analyze covered ground.For example, can analyze one or more heliostat layouts and according to by heliostat The covered ground of offer is laid out to distribute score.Viewing location can be the position of the solar energy target at solar column or near it It sets.It can be distributed according to the time in selected one day or in 1 year or according to some time average or time-weighted average point Number.Alternately or additionally, score can be calculated by the covered ground on multiple positions in analysis solar energy field.For general It is deployed in the heliostat of the given number in the given area on land and/or the settled date mirror of intended size, may exist Many potential heliostat layouts.When heliostat is not limited to the deployment on line or regular arc/curve, potential heliostat layout Number in fact can be sizable.Each of these potential heliostat layouts can be from different covered ground scores It is associated.

Embodiment described herein can be related at least some of fixed in description central tower solar thermal power plants for generating The technology of the solar energy field layout of the position of solar eyepiece.Can execute heliostat configuration space search with analyze covered ground or The other parameters derived from covered ground.The search space in the space corresponding to possible heliostat placement scheme can be quite big 's.As attempt use brute-force technology substitution, Global Optimization Algorithm For Analysis can make in the heliostat in field at least 50,100, 500,1000 or 5000 positions optimize.It is, for example, possible to use Global Optimization Algorithm For Analysis to determine for solar energy field The deployed position (that is, having the heliostat of at least twice greater than tower height degree to tower distance) of heliostat in perimeter without Make the deployment constraint in certain line or arc.

The given covered ground that can be obtained using optimization tool in the big search space for heliostat layout is led The approximation of the global optimum value of function or the given part for heliostat field out.Optimization tool can include but is not limited to Global or local searches for random/probability tool, meta-heuristic algorithm, simulated annealing, hill climbing algorithm, genetic algorithm, dynamic Programming and/or ant group algorithm.Covered ground export function may include that total ground that is averaged time throughout the region of field or field is covered Lid.This time be averaged ground coverage function can be it is preferential for cost with several days in time and/or other year in other day Select the weighting function of some months in summer and/or the larger face coverage area in several hours at dusk.

In embodiment, the method for determining solar energy field layout may include being initially selected for what heliostat was placed One or more parts of solar energy field.Position can be determined for one group of heliostat, in the large area of such as solar energy field Heliostat, at least 50%, 70%, 80% or 90% of such region composition solar energy field.It is optimized using one or more The field placement scheme of the selected portion for solar energy field can be generated in technology.It then, can be according to placement scheme generated Heliostat is mounted in solar energy field.

Generations of placement scheme can make in terms of the position from the top of tower or near it by heliostat realization Covered ground or ground masking can be optimized at least partially.Covered ground/masking can be only in solar energy field Heliostat in region make insolation be redirected to solar column top (or near top) one of total capacity measurement.May be used also To use other measurements.Additionally or alternatively, for the non local region of one or more of solar energy field, such as it is relatively distant from tower Solar energy field region, when be used in the placement scheme of one or more parts of solar energy field optimize when, can be not Placement scheme is determined in the case where being constrained in any certain line or arc.

Figure 50-Figure 52 can be related to being located at the west heliostat in the west of tower 10 and viewing location/target point 500, although Similar reasoning can be obtained for the heliostat in other sections of solar energy field.Referring now to Figure 50, due to heliostat 12 The sun is followed so that insolation 14 to be reflected into the target point 500 on receiver 20, therefore the orientation (example of the reflective mirror 13 of heliostat 12 Such as the elevation angle and/or azimuth) all change on entire daytime, from the orientation 13 in morning_MOTo the orientation 13 in afternoon_AF。

From viewing location 500, the presence of the reflective mirror 13 of heliostat 12 will cover ground.When due in different one day Between heliostat different orientation, the size in shielded region and/or position can change for each heliostat.For example, by In the orientation 13 of the reflective mirror in morning_MO, shielded region 502 is generated relative to viewing location 500, while the reflective mirror in afternoon Orientation 13_AFIt can lead to lesser shielded region 504.For time in any one day in the Northern Hemisphere, the due north of You Ta The size to the shielded region in ground caused by the independent heliostat at set a distance can be greater than in the due south for being deployed in tower By the size in the shielded region in ground as caused by same independent heliostat in the case where at same distance.It is this in the Southern Hemisphere Situation will be on the contrary, allow southern heliostat to cause the more ground of each heliostat to hide compared with corresponding northern heliostat It covers.

Figure 51 illustrates two heliostats 12 in the west for being both deployed in tower 10.The part 512 of reflective mirror 13 is opposite Stopped in viewing location 500 by adjacent heliostat 12.In other words, the insolation reflected by this part 512 will be by the anti-of heliostat 12 Light microscopic 13 stops and cannot reach viewing location 500.This part 512 can be considered as to waste reflective mirror space, i.e., certain anti- Light microscopic is unused for for insolation being directed to the available reflective mirror space at receiver during being orientated.In addition, by each reflective mirror 13 There may be overlappings between the region of masking, to generate single shielded region 510 on the ground.By the way that heliostat is farther Ground separation, as shown in figure 52, by the shielded ground region that each reflective mirror generates become independent and different region 520, 522, there is gap 524 in-between.This gap 524 indicates the ground that do not covered by heliostat in its current arrangement and orientation Region.Since this gap will be visible from viewing location 500, so it can indicate wasting space, i.e., in certain reflective mirrors It is not used to for insolation to be directed to the land at receiver during orientation.

Heliostat field layout optimization in can be used each reflective mirror 13 being blocked part 513 and/or by Shaded areas, such as 510 size and/or the size in the distance between shielded region, such as gap 524.It is fixed by not making Solar eyepiece layout constraint is in certain line or arc and the covered ground by realizing the every density range considered including above-mentioned covered ground Optimum procedure can obtain efficient heliostat layout.

Apply arc or line constraint by avoiding being laid out solar energy field, the amount on the ground covered by heliostat can be made (i.e. The time is average at a time point or within one or more periods) it optimizes.In embodiment, this can be related to wherein allowing Heliostat position is deviateed significantly can be in solar energy field the case where any line or arc of restrictive rule or orderly pattern.In addition Or alternatively, the deployment of heliostat can be made to be confined to such as concentric arc；It can be however, being placed along the heliostat of each arc It is substantially substantially irregular.It additionally or alternatively, can be by the deployment constraint of heliostat centered on solar column Concentric driver's compartment in region in.The calculation of such as simulated annealing can no any further geometrical constraint (such as Arrangement is online or arc on) in the case where determine optimum position for the heliostat in each region.The algorithm can be based on example Such as optimize the heliostat position in each region from the ground masking in terms of the target in solar column.

Referring now to Figure 53, show the solar energy field in terms of the position from the top of tower 18 or near it a part, Such as the view of the northern section of the interior section 402 of the field 2 in Figure 40-Figure 41.Figure 54 shows a part of solar energy field, Such as the northern section of the exterior section 400N of the field 2 in Figure 40-Figure 41.Similarly, Figure 55-Figure 56 illustrates Figure 40-Figure 41 In field 2 interior section 402 and exterior section 400S southern section.Therefore Figure 53-Figure 56 is illustrated in solar energy field Cover property in the ground of the arrangement of heliostat.Compared with when from the point of view of as a schematic diagram (i.e. the birds-eye view of solar energy field), this is too Positive energy field seems more orderly when seeing at the top from tower or near it (that is, because it is designed to make ground masking most Bigization).

The heliostat placement in the region 400 for solar energy field shown in the exterior section of field, such as Figure 40 can not examine Consider specific bank or arc pattern, at the same the heliostat of the interior section for field place can it is highly constrained in specific line or Arc.For example, the fields inside 582 closer to the field of tower 2 more can orderly and/or substantially conforming to grid be laid out in Figure 58, The position of the heliostat in external field 580 can be determined in the case where not being constrained in certain line or arc simultaneously.For Figure 57 institute Both the field 1 shown, the fields inside 572 close to tower and the external field 570 far from tower have according to line pattern (in interior section In 572) or arc pattern (in exterior section 570) deployment heliostat.With the field 2 of Figure 58 on the contrary, the settled date of the field 1 in Figure 57 The position of mirror is selected as being in aturegularaintervals along global lines or arc pattern (being constrained in the deployment on line or arc pattern), this The optimal ground that is less than for the time in time in one or more one day and/or one or more 1 year can be caused to cover Lid.Although the field 2 in Figure 58 has the perimeter 580 for being wherein observed that local line or arc pattern, it is to be noted that Position for these heliostats is determined in the case where not requiring the deployment along specific global lines or arc pattern.Phase Instead, in the layout of field 2 recognizable any local pattern be optimization relative to covered ground rather than for along certain The product of the requirement of the heliostat deployment of a little lines or arc.

In embodiment, the solar energy field of heliostat can be provided in any combination of any feature of the displosure, including But it is not limited to any combination (for range, any combination of upper and lower bound limits possible range) of following characteristics:

(1) heliostat is sized feature-for example, any feature can be related in solar energy field or part of it extremely Few 10,50,100,150,200,500,1000,3000,5000,10000,20000,50,000 or 100,000 heliostats Settled date microscope group；

(2) heliostat altitude feature-is for example, any feature can be related to settled date microscope group, wherein think on any position Whole, most or suitable majorities of one group of heliostat be short.For example, heliostat height H is (i.e. reflective from local ground The height of the mass center of mirror assembly) it is at most 10m, 7m, 5m, 3m, 2.5m or 2m.For example, between heliostat height H and tower height degree Than being at most 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, 2%, 1.5% or 1%；

(3) reflector size feature-is directed to any group of heliostat of any size, and average reflector size can example For example at least 1m²、3m²、5m²、10m²Or 12m²Or at most 50m²、30m²Or 20m²；

(4) uniformly reflector size-heliostat can have substantially the same size or have with such as at most 0.5, 0.4, the standard deviation of 0.3,0.2,0.1,0.05,0.03,0.01 or 0.005 mirror assembly size and average reflective mirror ruler The mirror assembly of ratio between very little；

(5) heliostat density-can at least 0.1,0.3,0.5,0.75,1,1.5 or 2.5 or at most 10,5,3,2, 1.5 or 1 density (every 100m²Heliostat) in one group of heliostat of deployed in areas of solar energy field；

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

As discussed above, the settled date is not made according to the placement scheme optimized for ' ground blocking capability ' — that is, wherein Mirror is constrained in the heliostat scheme of line or arc to dispose heliostat be useful.Figure 61 figure -65 shows ' ground blocking capability ' Specific condition (i.e. from the ground seen from the observer's point of view at the top of tower or at the top of tower or near it only covering It covers).It is seen from the observer's point of view at position at the top of tower or near it, settled date mirror ' masking ' is (equivalently, " masking " or " hiding ") ground of solar energy field.It is the time in certain one days, adjacent when heliostat is mutually close enough The sight overlapping of heliostat reduces (again from the point of view of the observer on tower) relative to total heliostat reflective mirror Long-pending shielded floor area.Wherein will not force it online or arc on alignment any constraint in the case where make it is fixed In the embodiment that solar eyepiece layout optimizes, reduces the lap between adjacent heliostat, give identical density and heliostat Size realizes ' the ground masking ' of bigger level compared with making placement scheme of the heliostat constraint online or on curve.Explanation The another way of this point is can to make when allowing heliostat to be located at and do not follow on the position of line or arc relative in tower The ground screening efficiency (dead area of each heliostat or per unit heliostat reflective mirror area) of advantage point is bigger.

For 24 positions that the label in Figure 61 is, at the top for being located at the tower that its height is about 135 meters Viewer from the point of view of, analyze and than in competiting place 1 and field 2 heliostat masking ground ability.Each region L1-L24 packet Include at least 50 heliostats.The analysis is completed for certain time points in 1 year.As follows selection 24 positions: the north about (3 positions) at 350m, about 550m, about 750m, at northwest about 350m, about 550m, about 750m (3 positions), in northeast (3 positions) at about 350m, about 550m, about 750m, at south about 350m, about 550m, about 750m (3 positions), in southwest (3 positions) at about 350m, about 550m, about 750m, at the southeast about 350m, about 550m, about 750m (3 positions), in west (3 positions), at east about 350m, about 550m, about 750m (3 positions) at about 350m, about 550m, about 750m.

Figure 62-Figure 65 is illustrated respectively for California at about 35 ° of 20'26 " N, 115 ° of 18'38 " W dimension March, June, September and ten of 3 times (i.e. 9AM, noon, 4PM) in one day of solar energy field position near Ivanpah February result.In Figure 62 A, Figure 63 A, Figure 64 A and Figure 65 A, column B-H show indicate seen from the top of tower by heliostat The ground shield parameter (G.O.) of the percentage on the ground of masking, and arrange I-N and show the heliostat of per unit floor area.Needle The heliostat density that performance is optimised is intended to larger in tower and southern part on the scene.It is covered different from ground Parameter, heliostat density do not change, and are therefore not dependent on the month in one day in time or 1 year.

Figure 62 B, Figure 63 B, Figure 64 B and Figure 65 B, column Q-V show density normalization ground shield parameter, characterize one day In different time or the month in 1 year according to heliostat placement scheme deployment heliostat masking ground efficiency (GO.O/Dens).Column W-Y shows the G.O./Dens for 24 positions in two fields.Column Z-AB is shown and column W-Y phase With but by use roughly, inaccurately orientation averaging scheme carries out the result for being orientated averaging.Column AC-ACK is shown not by root The ground shield parameter being normalized according to the settled date mirror density in given area (i.e. L1, L2...L24).

Figure 62 B, Figure 63 B, Figure 64 B and his Figure 65 B show field 2 and are intended in terms of covering ground (i.e. from the top of tower Place or its nearby see) more efficiently than field 1.Particularly, it can be observed that on certain positions, (i) heliostat in field 2 G.O. the ratio between/density and G.O./density of the heliostat in field (ii) 1 tends to exceed 1 — that is, is more than at least percent It is several.

The example of Figure 61-Figure 65 show wherein heliostat be not constrained in the optimization of the heliostat layout of circular arc or line with Being constrained to line or the comparable of arc using wherein heliostat realizes bigger per unit when heliostat is laid out obtainable compare The ground coverage of reflective mirror area.Some embodiments are related to the system based on central tower heliostat comprising are deployed in too Multiple heliostats in positive energy field.Can by the deployment of heliostat-Tower System on the Northern Hemisphere or on any position in the Southern Hemisphere-example As more than 20 degree or more than 25 degree or more than 30 degree and/or less than 50 degree or less than 45 degree or less than 40 degree or less than 35 degree At dimension.

On the scene 1 and the situation of field 2 two under, the arrangement of heliostat be far from tower field characteristic.Closer to the center sun Energy tower can dispose heliostat in geometrically constrained scheme in the case where the significant deterioration in terms of no system effectiveness. Further away from center solar column, the best of heliostat can be realized by the arrangement in the case where not being constrained in line or curve Arrangement.Although it does so in the case where taking constraint for arranging that the prior art systems of heliostat can optimize, Such as arranged in concentric ranks while optimizing spacing between the heliostat along ranks (rank) heliostat with Minimize distant place ranks by the blocking of closer ranks, more or less to realize honeycomb fashion Arrangement.Therefore, the heliostat of a ranks is spaced apart with angle A, the heliostats of next ranks by by with one ranks Those are spaced apart with A/2.

The distance between pitch pattern in ranks can change, and concentric ranks can also be changed, but along tool Have and is no more than the three times of spacing or the average arest neighbors no more than the heliostat in the directly radially range of line or arc between ranks Each ranks of the average headway of the three times of distance have the repeat patterns of many heliostats.This makes ranks in random observation It is well defined and obvious.Note that 1 example of field described herein be the layout patterns that are constrained by line or arc clearly Example.In the presence of more unconspicuous example, but geometrical constraint at display is gone through, such as the overlapping of parallel arc.Constraint The freedom degree in optimizing is simplified, and allows to obtain global best configuration in simplified constrain.The method that herein proposes and As a result must by using do not guarantee to provide global optimum determine scheme optimal method come before obtaining global optimum value, To realize the non-geometric constraint arrangement of heliostat, have been found not being considered being laid out certain useful to determining field for previous A little optimized cost functions realize more optimized level.These include complicated cost function (such as season income or season Electricity output) or simpler cost function, such as (such as connect from the ground masking in terms of the advantage point near the receiver in tower In 0.5 times of the receiver height of receipts machine).

Figure 66 is shown in which the spacing such as the heliostat 722 indicated at 726 along the substantially uniform (edge of certain arcs Arc it is equidistant) and as indicated on other arcs 730 substantially uneven (three close followed by gaps at 728；Weight The section of field layout 720 again).Drawing arc 728 is in order to show heliostat and be located on arc or line, even if its spacing is uneven 's.Also, the figure shows concentric or parallel arcs.These concentric arcs can be substantially circular, oval or oval 's.Figure 67 shows the separate tower according to the embodiment of open theme and is reflection optimization field layout from figure 23 above The region of field 220.This is that wherein heliostat 747 seems to be fairly close to fall on straight line 744 or arc 742 but go through Show its no example.220 with field 720 the difference is that cannot be by line or arc or especially parallel lines or same Heart arc be positioned so that its extend through be spaced from each other be no more than adjacent to or online or arc on heliostat it is average (recently It is adjacent) at least 20 heliostats of the three times of spacing.

It can be from the viewpoint of needing position of how much information to characterize heliostat as the settled date fallen on line or arc The characterization of mirror.In an identical manner and due to by enabling heliostat position constraint to reduce the dimension of optimization in line or arc Same cause, compared with unconfined one, the layout of Yao Dingyi constrained optimization needs less information (assuming that most without constraint The method of optimization using heliostat placement without restraint of liberty and do not generate the inside that may be reflected in optimized results and limit System).In other words, the layout of constrained optimization has than a unconfined less information or smaller entropy.It is straight to detect There are many existing algorithms of other curves of line or such as arc, and by image procossing or the technical staff in compression of images field It better understands.For example, the algorithm for image procossing and compression of images is developed well, and detection curve can be used to And determine the curve for indicating the required least complicated type of field layout.Once it is detected, it can be bent for parallel condition test Line.The number of curve and the number for falling in the heliostat position on curve can be quantified.If the position on curve and curve Information content needed for setting aspect characterization field layout close to information content needed for the position for specifying heliostat in terms of its independent coordinate, Heliostat cannot be then said to be and be fallen on curve or line, because using the term in the present specification.Therefore, in order to make the settled date Mirror is fallen on curve or line, and minimal information amount needed for indicating the position on line or curve should be than independently indicating needed for position Small about twice or more, it is assumed that the phase equally accurate in two kinds of expressions.In order to provide simple examples, if 1250 heliostats are with phase Deng number distribution on 25 curves, be each represented by cubic polynomial, then can with for each curve 3 numbers (number) 50 numbers of the heliostat and on each curve 1325 illy characterize its position.Not join Specify its position that will require 2500 numbers in the case where examining line or curve.

To the embodiment according to open theme exempt to the layout of field according to prior art optimize it is another it is public about It is equal that beam, which is by being considered as in terms of optimum target around the sector of the border circular areas of receiver, so that obtaining rotational symmetry Pattern.Such as to guide its of daylight mutually to stop to minimize or elimination receiver of the heliostat in central tower Optimum target can produce alternate intervals pattern, it will be apparent that still the pattern finally has radial direction such as in Figure 66 It is repeated in the adjacent sectors 732 of line 734, pattern repeats between the radial line 734.Repeat lacking and characterizing public affairs for sector pattern Open all embodiments of theme.It is, for example, possible to use the optimizations in ground screening efficiency to be constrained in equal 772 He of fan-shaped region 776 (Figure 68) can have identical or mirror image layout patterns.However, according to the embodiment of open theme, otherwise heliostat It is constrained in region 772.In Figure 68, the driver's compartment 778 being bonded in layout is shown, restriction is not placed wherein fixed It solar eyepiece and serves as to the constraint of optimization but the not region of the arrangement in constraint, such as 772,776 and 774.

The embodiment of open theme includes the optimization to multiple possible targets, can be according to the complexity and meter of optimization It calculates burden and is grouped from the feature for optimizing the result obtained.Table 3 is shown based on (in some cases) and fixed The optimal method and result for the nonlinear optimization algorithm that geometrical constraint is applied together.Embodiment is divided into disclosure most by table 3 Type, example and the associated different characteristic of optimization method embodiment and heliostat layout.In the row I being indicated as in table 3 Embodiment in, heliostat can be made to move back and forth in the sector of arbitrary dimension.It can be changed by increasing the width of sector It is kind to optimize.Due to the interior zone near tower optimization and do not benefit from optimize in high-freedom degree number, it is possible to This region is excluded, such as region 782 shown in Figure 68.Rotational symmetry can be obtained from the optimization covered about ground, Because no matter how angle has the same effect ground masking relative to receiver the layout.By increasing sector size, The more freedom degrees for the optimization benefit for having reduced may be implemented.

In the embodiment for the row II being indicated as in table 3, make to simulate the operation in one or more day time operation periods One or more time intervals in energy production optimize.One group of simulation number of days may include multiple seasons and zoom in and out To correspond to the annual operation cycle.If the difference between the beginning and end executed daily does not show the optimization that field is laid out Meaning and if the difference of the weather on an average between AM and PM is nearly free from difference, by only changing on side Layout and carry out mirror image makes freedom degree die-off to generate performance prediction.Otherwise, entire unit can be turned to by field is optimal.

In the embodiment for the row III being indicated as in table 3, make to simulate the operation in one or more day time operation periods One or more time intervals in income operation optimization.One group of simulation number of days may include multiple seasons and zoom in and out To correspond to the annual operation cycle.Generally, income, which optimizes, will be expected the asymmetry for the thing side for causing best field layout. If (recognizing that it also becomes according to season) during one or the generation valence between the beginning and end operated daily The no significant meaning of optimization that the difference of the energy of value is laid out field and if weather on an average between AM and PM Difference does not generate significant difference, then can make freedom by only changing the layout on side and carrying out mirror image to generate performance prediction Degree is die-offed.Otherwise, entire field can be turned to by field is optimal.

It note that the constraint that can apply such as driver's compartment 778 in embodiment, can exclude heliostat there Outside.

Table 3: optimal method and result: there is the nonlinear optimization algorithm of fixed geometrical constraint

It should be appreciated that can with hardware, with the hardware of software programming, be stored in non-transitory computer-readable medium On software instruction or more than combination realize above-mentioned module, process, system and portion.Matched for example, can be used for example It is fixed for controlling to realize to be set to the processor for the programming instruction sequence that execution is stored in non-transitory computer-readable medium The system of solar eyepiece and/or the system being laid out for determining the heliostat in solar energy field.For example, processor may include but unlimited In personal computer or work station or other such computing systems comprising processor, microprocessor, microcontroller device, or It is made of the control logic for including such as integrated circuit of specific integrated circuit (ASIC).It can be from according to such as Java, C ++, the source code instruction that provides of the programming languages such as C#_.net compile the instruction.The instruction can also include according to such as Visual Basic^TMThe code and data object that language or another structuring or Object-Oriented Programming Language provide.It can be by programming instruction sequence Column and data associated therewith are stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium of such as computer storage or memory device In, it can be any suitably memory devices, such as, but not limited to ROM, PROM, EEPROM, RAM, flash memory, magnetic Disk drive etc..

Furthermore, it is possible to which module, processing system and section are embodied as single processor or distributed processors.In addition, It should be appreciated that above-mentioned steps can be executed on single or distributed processors (monokaryon and/or multicore).Also, above Multiple computers or system can be crossed in the various figures of embodiment and for process, module and the submodule of embodiment description Distribution, or can co-locate in single processor or system.Be provided below be adapted for carrying out module described herein, Portion, system, the replacement of the exemplary structure embodiment of device or process.

Module described herein, processor or system can be embodied as to such as programmed general purpose computer, be compiled with microcode The electronic equipment of journey, hardwire analog logic circuit, the software being stored on computer-readable medium or signal, optical computing are set It the networked system of standby, electronics and/or optical device, dedicated computing equipment, integrated circuit device, semiconductor chip and is stored in Software module or object on computer-readable medium or signal.

Can general purpose computer, special purpose computer, programming microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit element, ASIC or other integrated circuits, digital signal processor, the hardwire electronics of such as discrete component circuit or logic circuit, such as The upper implementation for realizing described method and system (or its subassembly or module) such as program logic circuit of PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL Example.Generally, any process that can be realized function or step described herein can be used to realize the method, system or meter The embodiment of calculation machine program product (or the software program being stored in non-transitory computer-readable medium).

In addition it is possible to use for example provide the object of portable source code that can be used on a variety of computer platforms or Object-oriented Software Development environment completely or partially easily realizes that published method, system and computer program are produced with software The embodiment of product.Alternatively, such as standard logic circuits can be used or VLSI design is partially or completely realized with hardware The embodiment of published method, system and computer program product.It can be according to the speed and/or efficiency requirements of system, specific Function and/or specific software currently in use or hardware system, microprocessor or microcomputer and use other hardware or soft Part realizes embodiment.It can be described and be occurred with solar energy and/or computer programming field according to function provided herein General rudimentary knowledge uses system that is any known or developing later or structure, equipment and/or soft by those skilled in the art Part uses the embodiment of hardware and/or software implementation method, system and computer program product.

Furthermore, it is possible to realize public affairs with the software in the upper execution such as programmed general purpose computer, special purpose computer, microprocessor The embodiment of the extraction of root, system and computer program product.

Can combine the feature of open embodiment, rearrange, omit within the scope of the disclosure etc. with generate add it is real Apply example.In addition, certain features can be advantageously used in the case where the corresponding use of other no features sometimes.

It is therefore evident that according to being laid out and being used for arrange wherein present disclose provides solar energy field, safeguard And the system and method for operation heliostat.Make it possible to realize many replacements, modification and change with the disclosure.Although It shows and specific embodiment is described in detail to illustrate the application of the principle of the present invention, it will be appreciated that can in addition exist The present invention is embodied in the case where not departing from such principle.Therefore, applicant is intended to cover within the spirit and scope of the present invention All such replacements, modification, equivalent and change.

Claims

1. a kind of method for disposing heliostat in solar energy field, comprising:

Determine the first area of solar energy field, in the first region, time and/or one or more in one or more one day Insolation is directed at the target in solar column by the time in 1 year compared with the heliostat in the second area in solar energy field Heliostat geometrically less efficiently, wherein geometrically efficiently refer to from the size of the independent heliostat in terms of tower and/ Or in the time in a specific day/year by the ratio between the independent heliostat insolation amount reflected and the physical size of heliostat；And

Heliostat is disposed in solar energy field, so that first area has the total reflective mirror area higher than second area or settled date Mirror density.

2. the method according to claim 1, wherein the second area is first area relative to centered on solar column One mirror area in basic axis.

3. the method according to claim 1, wherein the target has front face area substantially the same in each basic orientation Face, wherein basic orientation refers to due north, due east, due south and due west.

4. the method according to claim 1, wherein the target be it is columnar, around its circumference have substantially constant height Degree.