Dimension and mechanical structure design of low-cost heliostats in concentrated solar power plants

Shen Zhang; Abdulaziz M. Qwbaiban; Jeongmin Huh; Thomas G. Habetler

doi:10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912981

Dimension and mechanical structure design of low-cost heliostats in concentrated solar power plants

Shen Zhang
, Abdulaziz M. Qwbaiban
, Jeongmin Huh
, Thomas G. Habetler

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents the dimension selection of the reflective mirror and the mechanical support structure design of heliostats in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. To start with, a flowchart for designing a heliostat is presented, followed by a detailed wind load analysis to determine its mirror dimension and electric drive ratings. Specifically, the validity of the employed analytical equations developed by the Sandia National Lab are verified with a computational fluid dynamics simulation of wind pressure on the mirror surface. In addition, three mechanical support structures, with two selected from the recent literature and one proposed in this paper, are presented to assess their mechanical robustness and perform a cost comparison. The result demonstrates all of the mechanical designs are able to withstand the expected maximum wind load during solar tracking, and the rim drive is the most cost-effective structure of the three under the same comparison guidelines and principles.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	3441-3447
Number of pages	7
ISBN (Electronic)	9781728103952
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912981
State	Published - Sep 2019
Externally published	Yes
Event	11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019 - Baltimore, United States Duration: 29 Sep 2019 → 3 Oct 2019

Publication series

Name	2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019

Conference

Conference	11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019
Country/Territory	United States
City	Baltimore
Period	29/09/19 → 3/10/19

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 IEEE.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Concentrated solar power (CSP)
Cost comparison
Heliostats
Mechanical structure
Wind load

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Mechanical Engineering
Control and Optimization
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912981

Cite this

Zhang, S., Qwbaiban, A. M., Huh, J., & Habetler, T. G. (2019). Dimension and mechanical structure design of low-cost heliostats in concentrated solar power plants. In 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019 (pp. 3441-3447). Article 8912981 (2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912981

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title = "Dimension and mechanical structure design of low-cost heliostats in concentrated solar power plants",

abstract = "This paper presents the dimension selection of the reflective mirror and the mechanical support structure design of heliostats in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. To start with, a flowchart for designing a heliostat is presented, followed by a detailed wind load analysis to determine its mirror dimension and electric drive ratings. Specifically, the validity of the employed analytical equations developed by the Sandia National Lab are verified with a computational fluid dynamics simulation of wind pressure on the mirror surface. In addition, three mechanical support structures, with two selected from the recent literature and one proposed in this paper, are presented to assess their mechanical robustness and perform a cost comparison. The result demonstrates all of the mechanical designs are able to withstand the expected maximum wind load during solar tracking, and the rim drive is the most cost-effective structure of the three under the same comparison guidelines and principles.",

keywords = "Concentrated solar power (CSP), Cost comparison, Heliostats, Mechanical structure, Wind load",

author = "Shen Zhang and Qwbaiban, \{Abdulaziz M.\} and Jeongmin Huh and Habetler, \{Thomas G.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 IEEE.; 11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019 ; Conference date: 29-09-2019 Through 03-10-2019",

year = "2019",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912981",

language = "English",

series = "2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

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address = "United States",

}

Zhang, S, Qwbaiban, AM, Huh, J & Habetler, TG 2019, Dimension and mechanical structure design of low-cost heliostats in concentrated solar power plants. in 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019., 8912981, 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 3441-3447, 11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019, Baltimore, United States, 29/09/19. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912981

Dimension and mechanical structure design of low-cost heliostats in concentrated solar power plants. / Zhang, Shen; Qwbaiban, Abdulaziz M.; Huh, Jeongmin et al.
2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2019. p. 3441-3447 8912981 (2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Dimension and mechanical structure design of low-cost heliostats in concentrated solar power plants

AU - Zhang, Shen

AU - Qwbaiban, Abdulaziz M.

AU - Huh, Jeongmin

AU - Habetler, Thomas G.

PY - 2019/9

Y1 - 2019/9

N2 - This paper presents the dimension selection of the reflective mirror and the mechanical support structure design of heliostats in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. To start with, a flowchart for designing a heliostat is presented, followed by a detailed wind load analysis to determine its mirror dimension and electric drive ratings. Specifically, the validity of the employed analytical equations developed by the Sandia National Lab are verified with a computational fluid dynamics simulation of wind pressure on the mirror surface. In addition, three mechanical support structures, with two selected from the recent literature and one proposed in this paper, are presented to assess their mechanical robustness and perform a cost comparison. The result demonstrates all of the mechanical designs are able to withstand the expected maximum wind load during solar tracking, and the rim drive is the most cost-effective structure of the three under the same comparison guidelines and principles.

AB - This paper presents the dimension selection of the reflective mirror and the mechanical support structure design of heliostats in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. To start with, a flowchart for designing a heliostat is presented, followed by a detailed wind load analysis to determine its mirror dimension and electric drive ratings. Specifically, the validity of the employed analytical equations developed by the Sandia National Lab are verified with a computational fluid dynamics simulation of wind pressure on the mirror surface. In addition, three mechanical support structures, with two selected from the recent literature and one proposed in this paper, are presented to assess their mechanical robustness and perform a cost comparison. The result demonstrates all of the mechanical designs are able to withstand the expected maximum wind load during solar tracking, and the rim drive is the most cost-effective structure of the three under the same comparison guidelines and principles.

KW - Concentrated solar power (CSP)

KW - Cost comparison

KW - Heliostats

KW - Mechanical structure

KW - Wind load

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85076790792

U2 - 10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912981

DO - 10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912981

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85076790792

T3 - 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019

SP - 3441

EP - 3447

BT - 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

T2 - 11th Annual IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019

Y2 - 29 September 2019 through 3 October 2019

ER -

Zhang S, Qwbaiban AM, Huh J, Habetler TG. Dimension and mechanical structure design of low-cost heliostats in concentrated solar power plants. In 2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2019. p. 3441-3447. 8912981. (2019 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition, ECCE 2019). doi: 10.1109/ECCE.2019.8912981

Dimension and mechanical structure design of low-cost heliostats in concentrated solar power plants

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this