Patent ID: 8365719
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: F24S,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A solar energy collection system, comprising: a first receiver configured at a first receiving location for receiving solar energy; a second receiver configured at a second receiving location for receiving solar energy; and a plurality of heliostats each having a reflector assembly, wherein each heliostat is configured to orient the reflector assembly so as to direct incident solar radiation toward the first receiver, and wherein each heliostat is configured to orient the reflector assembly so as to direct incident solar radiation toward the second receiver, wherein the second receiving location is geographically separated from the first receiving location, wherein at least one heliostat is configured to limit cosine loss, wherein each heliostat is controlled to direct reflected solar radiation to either the first receiver or the second receiver as a function of system state, wherein each heliostat is controlled based on a function of one or more system state variables consisting of the time of day, the season of the year, the Sun's position, the transmissivity of the atmosphere, the local weather, the local atmospheric temperature, the local wind speed, the temperature of each receiver, the number of heliostats directing solar radiation to each receiver, the current commanded orientation of each heliostat, the measured orientation of each heliostat and heliostat cleanliness, wherein each heliostat is controlled to direct reflected solar radiation to either the first receiver or the second receiver as a function of system configuration, and wherein each heliostat is controlled based on a function of one or more system configuration variables consisting of heliostat locations, heliostat coordinate system transformations, heliostat operational status, heliostat reflectivity, maximum heliostat motion capability, maximum heliostat operational wind speed, receiving locations; receiver operational status, receiver incident radiation acceptance angles, maximum receiver incident radiation flux and desired receiver incident radiation flux.