Method for optimizing tower-type solar power plants

Method for optimizing the arrangement of heliostats on the territory of a tower-type solar power plant, the territory including a discrete grid of points (j=x, y, z) whereon a coverage (Cj) is defined as the ratio between the mirroring surface installed at said points and the corresponding territory area, the yearly solar radiation concerning a discrete grid of solar coordinates, zenith and azimuth (i=zen, azi), above a local horizon line, contributing to the usable radiation for the plant, comprising the following steps: – for each one of said points and solar coordinates, calculating an optimal density Copt ij, of the heliostats as the maximum specific mirroring area that can be covered at the considered grid point without the heliostats shading each other, thereby blocking the incident or reflected radiation; – for each one of said points, calculating the yearly collected energy as the sum of the energetic contributions of each solar coordinate, each one multiplied by the least value of the coverage and the optimal density for the corresponding solar coordinate; – for each one of said points, calculating an increase in the collected radiation resulting from increased coverage (Cj,) as the ratio between said collected energy and said coverage at that point; – calculating an optimal coverage Cmax.j with reference to the position of said tower, progressively increasing the coverage at said grid points until a target energy value (Rmax) is obtained; – determining a distribution of the positions of the heliostats that complies with said optimal coverage relative to said tower, by means of the following steps: – dividing said territory into a number of wedges (Nw) having the same opening angle, which is equal to the ratio between the round angle and the number of wedges; – within each wedge, arranging said heliostats along half-lines parallel to the wedge axis, equidistant by a fixed mutual distance (D), the number of half-lines within each wedge increasing with the distance from the tower and being determined by the number of times that the distance between the half-lines can be contained in the side of the regular polygon having a number of sides equal to said number of wedges (Nw), centred at the tower; – positioning the first heliostat at the beginning of the line and positioning the other ones at a distance equal to the ratio between the heliostat area and the local optimal coverage multiplied by said distance (D) between the lines. News – Espacenet

Application filed: 28/05/2020 by Crs4 S.R.L.. Publication: 03/12/2020 of WO2020240457 Inventor: Lorenzo Pisani

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