Systems and methods for mounting a heliostat

A mounting system for a heliostat is provided that allows the heliostat to move with respect to two orthogonal axes to track the sun. The mounting system has features that allow the heliostat to precisely and accurately move about these axes even as various components degrade during operation in har...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors STEGALL, Nathaniel, SOMMERS, Rick, KATTKE, Kyle
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 19.01.2023
Subjects
BLASTING
CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRICITY
GENERATION
GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-REDRADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, E.G. USINGPHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
HEATING
LIGHTING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
RANGES
SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS
SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
VENTILATING
WEAPONS
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Summary:A mounting system for a heliostat is provided that allows the heliostat to move with respect to two orthogonal axes to track the sun. The mounting system has features that allow the heliostat to precisely and accurately move about these axes even as various components degrade during operation in harsh environments and over long time periods. Embodiments of the mounting system can have a frame that supports multiple mirrors and translates forces from the mirrors to multiple hubs that move about a circular track. One of the hubs can include a fewer number of contact points to accommodate a circular track that is out of round. In addition, an actuator that moves the hubs around the circular track can be biased into the track to also accommodate a circular track that is out of round.
Bibliography:Application Number: AU20210270863