A cellwise method for the optimization of large central receiver systems

The total number of heliostats in the collecter field determines the approach to the optical simulation problem. For large central receiver systems, it is desirable to introduce a cell model which establishes an array of representative heliostats (see Ref.[1] for central receiver systems). We now have an arsenal of computer programs which allows us to optimize the arrangement of heliostats in the collector field subject to the approximations of the cell model. Each cell contains an arbitrary regular two dimensional array of heliostats. For practical reasons we have limited our current study of the 100 MWe commercial model to four categories of heliostats arrangement; (1) radial cornfields, (2) radial staggers, (3) N.-S. cornfields, and (4) N.-S. staggers. The most important results from the 100 MWe commercial model optimization study are: 1. (1) Staggers are better than cornfields. 2. (2) The increased cost of the tower and receiver subsystems has moved the solution to a larger cell size and a shorter tower. 3. (3) No panels should be deleted from the south side of the cykindrical receiver, and 4. (4) The collector field trims to a 360° configuration. The center of the collector field is north of the tower and some compromise may be made to prevent excessive panel power asymmetry. Currently, this problem is solved by using preheat panels in the southern part of the receiver. El enfoque del problema de simulación óptica en el campo de colección está determinado por su cantidad total de heliostatos. Para sistemas de gran receptor central es deseable introducir un modelo celular el que establece un arreglo de heliostatos representativo. Ahora nosotros tenemos un arsenal de programas de computación que nos permite optimizar el arreglo de heliostatos en el campo de colección sujeto a las aproximaciones del modelo celular. Cada célula contiene un arreglo bidimensional regular y arbitrario de heliostatos. Por razones prácticas nosotros hemos limitado nuestro eltudio actual del modelo comercial de 100 MWe a cuatro categorías de arreglo de heliostatos: (1) Cuadrícula radial, (2) Tresbolillo radia, (3) Cuadrícula N-S y (4) Tresbolillo N-S. Los resultados más importantes del estudio de optimización del modelo comerical de 100 MWe son: 1. (1) El tresbolillo es major que la cuadrícula. 2. (2) El elevado costo de la torre y de los subsistemas de recepción ha movido la solución hacia una célula mayor en tamano y una torre menor en altura. 3. (3) No debería suprimirse nin