Abstract
The heliostat field layout is an essential task for any solar tower
plant optimization process. Radially staggered and other distributions
are usually optimised by computer codes using different approaches.
In most of those cases, due to the CPU time required, the heliostat
field layout is optimised by several mathematical models and simplifications.
With todays computers, it is possible to calculate the yearly energy
available at any point in a site for a given tower height, the yearly
normalized energy surface (YNES). Yearly efficiency maps can be generated
based on the cosine factor, the spillage factor and the atmospheric
attenuation coefficient of the site using real Direct Normal Irradiance
(DNI) data, within a reasonable computing time. It is therefore easy
to find the place where the yearly energy available is the highest
for location of the first heliostat. It is also possible to calculate
the effect of shadowing and blocking by this heliostat on the YNES,
so YNES can be re-calculated and the best position for the next heliostat
can be found. Although this iterative method is time-consuming, it
is worthwhile if either the efficiency of the solar plant can be
increased or the capital cost reduced. This YNES-based layout generation
method enables better flexibility than pre-determined gridding strategies
such as used in DELSOL. The paper includes a description of the optimization
procedure
Users
Please
log in to take part in the discussion (add own reviews or comments).