Development of the Stressed Membrane Heliostat

ABSTRACT:
The research described in this report was conducted within the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Thermal Technology Program. This program directs efforts to incorporate technically proven and economically competitive solar thermal options into our nation's energy supply. These efforts are

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carried out through a network of national laboratories that work with industry. In a solar thermal system, mirrors or lenses focus sunlight onto a receiver where a working fluid absorbs the solar energy as heat. The system then converts the energy into electricity or uses it as process heat. There are two kinds of solar thermal systems: central receiver systems and distributed receiver systems. A central receiver system uses a field of heliostats (two-axis tracking mirrors) to focus the sun's radiant energy onto a receiver mounted on a tower. A distributed receiver system uses three types of optical arrangements--parabolic troughs, parabolic dishes, and hemispherical bowls--to focus sunlight onto either a line or point receiver. Distributed receivers may either stand alone or be grouped. This report presents the results of stressed membrane heliostat development performed by Solar Kinetics Inc.

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