Abstract: A toroidal heliostat and reflector frame for a heliostat are provided which passively adjust the apparent sagittal and/or tangential focal lengths of the reflector. This adjustment is provided by way of passive deflection of the reflector caused by one or more of gravitationally-induced deflection of one or more components of the heliostat; differential thermal expansion of materials of the heliostat; and/or relative movement between two or more components of the heliostat. Careful design of the heliostat enables optimisation of the power delivery profile and/or shape of the reflected image throughout the day.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 13, 2012
Date of Patent:
September 27, 2016
Assignee:
HELIOSYSTEMS PTY LTD.
Inventors:
Alex Geoffrey Lehmann, Peter Richard Allenspach
Abstract: A toroidal heliostat and reflector frame for a heliostat are provided which passively adjust the apparent sagittal and/or tangential focal lengths of the reflector. This adjustment is provided by way of passive deflection of the reflector caused by one or more of gravitationally-induced deflection of one or more components of the heliostat; differential thermal expansion of materials of the heliostat; and/or relative movement between two or more components of the heliostat. Careful design of the heliostat enables optimisation of the power delivery profile and/or shape of the reflected image throughout the day.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 13, 2012
Publication date:
February 13, 2014
Applicant:
Heliosystems Pty Ltd.
Inventors:
Alex Geoffrey Lehmann, Peter Richard Allenspach