Areva Solar, Inc.

Other

Philipp Schramek

Peter Lee Johnson

David B DeGraaff

Alexander F Hoermann

David R Mills

Peter K Le Lievre

Joachim Maass

Lars R Johnson

The aim of the invention is to build central receiver solar power plants in which the heliostat fields can be used more efficiently. To achieve said aim, a heliostat field consisting of a near field having a uniform reflector surface density &#x3c1; of more than 60% is preferably combined with a far field whose reflector surface density &#x3c1; decreases as the distance from the receiver increases. The invention also comprises central receiver solar power plants which consist exclusively of a near field having a uniform reflector surface density &#x3c1; of more than 60%. The high reflector surface density &#x3c1; in the near field and in areas of the far field is achieved by the use of heliostats having rectangular reflectors and a rigid horizontal axle suspension (FHA) or, alternatively, by heliostats having rectangular reflectors and a rigid quasipolar axle suspension (FQA). The heliostat field concentrates the solar radiation on a receiver whose target surface, aperture, thermal absorber or photovoltaic absorber has a normal vector which is directed downward to the heliostat field that extends below the receiver in the directions North, East, South and West. The receiver is mounted in a suspended manner to a support structure that extends over the heliostat field.

Central receiver solar system comprising a heliostat field

Described herein are solar energy collector systems, components for solar energy collector systems, and methods for installing solar energy collector systems. The components for solar energy collector systems include but are not limited to solar radiation absorbers, receivers, drives, drive systems, reflectors, and various support structures. The solar energy collection systems, solar radiation absorbers, receivers, drives, drive systems, reflectors, support structures, and/or methods may be used, for example, in LFR solar arrays. Drives and drive systems are described herein that may provide improved rotational positioning, movement, and/or rotational positional sensing. For example, drives and drive systems are provided which allow operation through a variable frequency drive. The components and methods described herein may be used together in any combination in a solar collector system, or they may be used separately in different solar collector systems.

Linear Fresnel solar arrays and drives therefor

Disclosed herein are examples and variations of solar energy collector system comprising an elevated linear receiver () and first and second reflector fields (P,E) located on opposite sides of, and arranged and driven to reflect solar radiation to, the receiver (). Also disclosed herein are examples and variations of receivers () and reflectors () that may, in some variations, be utilized in the disclosed solar energy collector systems.

Linear fresnel solar arrays

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Starnberg, Germany

Philipp Schramek