Patent ID: 9594855
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: G06F,Y02E

Claim:
1. A method comprising: determining, by a processor having an addressable memory, a location of one or more ungrounded triangular heliostat structures in a solar field; determining, by the processor, one or more circles of interference, wherein the one or more circles of interference are areas within a range of motion of one or more heliostats disposed on corners of the one or more triangular heliostat structures in the solar field; determining, by the processor, one or more circles of non-interference, wherein the one or more circles of non-interference are open spaces between the circles of interference; and determining, by the processor, a placement of one or more lightning rods in the one or more circles of non-interference, wherein the placement of the one or more lightning rods is based on a rolling sphere method.