Optimisation of aiming strategies in Solar Power Tower plants

The distribution of temperature on a Solar Power Tower (SPT) plant receiver directly affects the lifespan of the structure and energy generated by the plant. Temperature peaks and uneven distributions can be caused by the aiming strategy enforced on the heliostat field. A non-optimised aiming strategy can lead to suboptimal energy generation and, more importantly, to risk of permanent damage to receiver components from thermal overloading due to sharp flux gradients. In order to reduce damage to receivers and optimise the energy generation, an aiming strategy is developed which homogenises the flux distribution on a flat plate receiver in a SPT plant. Results of a near real-time optimised aiming strategy are presented, demonstrating applicability to SPT plants of any size and shape, whilst also considering inclement weather conditions. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.