Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S30/00—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules
  • F24S30/40—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S25/00—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
  • F24S25/60—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules
  • F24S25/65—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
  • E02D5/00—Bulkheads, piles, or other structural elements specially adapted to foundation engineering
  • E02D5/74—Means for anchoring structural elements or bulkheads
  • E02D5/80—Ground anchors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S25/00—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
  • F24S25/10—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S25/00—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
  • F24S25/60—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules
  • F24S25/61—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules for fixing to the ground or to building structures
  • F24S25/617—Elements driven into the ground, e.g. anchor-piles; Foundations for supporting elements; Connectors for connecting supporting structures to the ground or to flat horizontal surfaces
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S30/00—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules
  • F24S30/40—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement
  • F24S30/45—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement with two rotation axes
  • F24S30/452—Vertical primary axis
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S25/00—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
  • F24S2025/01—Special support components; Methods of use
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
  • Y02E10/47—Mountings or tracking

Definitions

• Trough systems generally use large, U-shaped (parabolic) reflectors (focusing mirrors) that have oil-filled pipes running along their centre, or focal point.
• the mirrored reflectors are tilted toward the sun, and focus sunlight on the pipes to heat the oil inside to as much as 400°C.
• the hot oil may then be used to boil water, which makes steam to run conventional steam turbines and generators.
• the main components include: a mirror array, a centralised tower with a thermal receiver, a heat transfer system, and a power block.
• the mirror array includes software controlled hardware components working together to concentrate solar thermal energy upon the thermal receiver that is located atop the tower and contains the heat transfer fluid. Once heated, the heat transfer fluid is circulated to the power block where the thermal energy is converted to electricity.
• the ability of the apparatus for heliostat support to provide stability to the drive mechanism and optical element is of key importance to the efficiency of the overall power generation system, since a lack of stability will likely result in sun tracking inaccuracy, and this leads to reduced overall system efficiency and reduced electrical output of plant operation.
• the high number of heliostats used in a mirror array means that the cost of the mirror array including mechanical and electrical hardware; the mirrors, drive mechanisms and support apparatus, and their associated power supply systems, are a highly significant factor in the economics of a centralised tower architecture for electricity generation plants.
• the present invention provides apparatus for supporting a heliostat comprising; a rigid, elongate vertical member, the vertical member comprising a first end region and a second end region, the first end region operatively connected to a heliostat drive mechanism via a drive mechanism connection means, the second end region adapted for being driven into frictional contact with the ground to provide resistance to environmental forces impacting the heliostat, and, at least one stabilising structure, wherein the at least one stabilising structure comprises a rigid interconnection between a first vertical member of a heliostat support and a second vertical member of another heliostat support.
• the anti-torsion member comprises an electric resistance welded hollow mild steel pipe having a circular cross-sectional shape.
• the anti-torsion member operable interconnection means includes at least one plate.
• the plates achieve the clamping effect by use of at least one laterally orientated fastener system.
• the present invention provides apparatus for supporting a heliostat comprising; a rigid, elongate vertical member, the vertical member comprising a first end region and a second end region, the first end region operatively connected to a heliostat drive mechanism via a drive mechanism connection means, the second end region adapted for being driven into frictional contact with the ground to provide resistance to environmental forces impacting the heliostat, and, the drive mechanism connection means is adapted to isolate the drive mechanism from torsional forces between the drive mechanism and the vertical member above a pre-determined threshold.
• the at least one plate comprises an arrangement of two mild steel external plates and an aluminium intermediate plate.
• the mild steel external plates comprise a ridged shape.
• the mild steel external plates have a thickness of about 4 millimetres.
• the aluminium intermediate plate comprises a scalloped profile.
• the aluminium intermediate plate has a minimum thickness of about 4 millimetres.
• the present invention provides a method for supporting a heliostat comprising the steps of: operatively connecting a first end region of a rigid, elongate vertical member to a heliostat drive mechanism via a drive mechanism connection means; driving a second end region of the rigid, elongate vertical member into frictional contact with the ground to provide resistance to environmental forces impacting the heliostat, and, isolating the drive mechanism from torsional forces between the drive mechanism and the vertical member above a pre-determined threshold.
• apparatus for supporting a heliostat including a rigid, elongate vertical member, the vertical member including a first end region and a second end region, the first end region including a heliostat drive mechanism connection means, the second end region located in the ground, the vertical member further including operable interconnection to at least one anti-torsion member, wherein the at least one anti- torsion member is a rigid, elongate member including a first end region and a second end region, the first end region having operable interconnection to a first heliostat drive mechanism support vertical member, the second end region having operable interconnection to a second heliostat drive mechanism support vertical member.
• a method for supporting a heliostat including the steps of: providing a rigid, elongate vertical member, the vertical member including a first end region and a second end region, the first end region including a heliostat drive mechanism connection means, locating the second end region in the ground, and affixing a heliostat drive mechanism via the heliostat drive mechanism connection means.
• embodiments of the present invention stem from the realisation by the inventor that current methods and apparatus for heliostat support may be optimised in order to offer stability in relation to regular incoming environmental forces whilst also isolating the drive mechanism from otherwise damaging environmental forces.
• Figure 1 depicts a side view of an embodiment according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 depicts a side view of an alternative embodiment according to the present invention.
• Figure 3 depicts an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 4 depicts an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 5 depicts a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 6 depicts a perspective view of a known heliostat arrangement.
• apparatus for a heliostat support shown generally as 10 includes a vertical member 20 including a first end region 30 and a second end region 40.
• the first end region 30 includes a heliostat drive mechanism connection means 50, adapted to connect the vertical member 20 to a heliostat drive mechanism 60 better described below with reference to figure 4.
• the second end region 40 is located in the ground 70 or more specifically adapted for being driven into frictional contact with the ground to provide resistance to environmentally imparted or imposed forces.
• a heliostat optical component for example, a mirror and/or lens or photovoltaic panel, for example, is indicated at 71.
• this embodiment offers the advantage of stability without the complexity and high cost of multiple components, nor the need for earth works, concrete footings or large scale equipment such as cranes to be used in the installation process.
• the vertical member 20 is of a rigid, elongate nature and may be constructed from a suitable material known to those skilled in the relevant art, including but not limited to; naturally occurring materials or fibres, including timber, metallic materials including steel and aluminium, or synthetic materials including plastics.
• the vertical member 20 is constructed from electric resistance welded hollow mild steel pipe having a circular cross-sectional shape and a nominal bore dimension of about 50 millimetres.
• the length of the vertical member 20 is about 3000 millimetres and the second end region 40 located in the ground 70 is about 2200 millimetres in length.
• the vertical member 20 is a low cost item and requires little fabrication, other than cutting to the required length.
• Various cross sectional profiles of the vertical member such as square, star etc are envisaged for offering an anti-torsional resistance and are encompassed in the scope of the present invention.
• a stabilising structure is provided by way of a rigid interconnection between a first vertical member of a heliostat support and a second vertical member of another heliostat support.
• the apparatus for heliostat support shown generally as 10 includes a rigid interconnection in the form of an elongate stabilising structure or member 90 having a first end region 100 and a second end region 1 10.
• the stabilising member 90 provides one or a combination of resistance to torsional and lateral forces imposed environmentally and in certain contexts may be referred to as an anti-torsion member or an anti-lateral force member.
• the first end region 100 and the second end region 1 10 each have operable interconnection 11 1 with the vertical members 20 of differing heliostat support apparatus, an example of which is shown generally as 1 1.
• the elongate stabilising member 90 is constructed from electric resistance welded hollow mild steel pipe having a circular cross-sectional shape and a nominal bore dimension of about 25 millimetres.
• the external opposed plates 140 and 160 are economically constructed from stamped approximately 4 millimetre thick mild steel having a ridged shape that maximises strength and contact area with the drive mechanism 60 and the vertical member 20.
• the intermediate opposed plate 150 is cost effectively constructed from extruded aluminium having a scalloped shape that maximises contact area with the drive mechanism 60 and the vertical member 20.
• the step of locating the vertical member 20 in the ground 70 may for example be achieved through use of driving equipment.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Paleontology (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Devices Affording Protection Of Roads Or Walls For Sound Insulation (AREA)
• Mounting And Adjusting Of Optical Elements (AREA)
• Manufacture, Treatment Of Glass Fibers (AREA)
• Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
• Particle Accelerators (AREA)
• Tents Or Canopies (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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• 2015
  • 2015-03-30 EP EP15770249.9A patent/EP3129727A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2015-03-30 AU AU2015100405A patent/AU2015100405A4/en not_active Ceased
  • 2015-03-30 AU AU2015234701A patent/AU2015234701A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2015-03-30 WO PCT/AU2015/000189 patent/WO2015143494A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2015-03-30 MX MX2016012714A patent/MX2016012714A/es unknown
  • 2015-03-30 US US15/300,242 patent/US20170191700A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2015-03-30 CN CN201580024740.1A patent/CN106461273A/zh active Pending
  • 2015-03-30 AP AP2016009508A patent/AP2016009508A0/en unknown
• 2016
  • 2016-09-27 IL IL248071A patent/IL248071A0/en unknown
  • 2016-09-28 CL CL2016002459A patent/CL2016002459A1/es unknown

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