Model Analysis and Optimization Design Strategy for a Class of Heliostat Field Systems

It is a critical issue to accurately calculate and optimize the various performances of a heliostat field. This paper presents a model for calculating the cosine efficiency using vector computation. Subsequently, another model based on ray tracing is established to calculate both the shading and blocking efficiency and receiver interception efficiencies. Lastly, this paper has adopted a graph-theory algorithm to expedite the calculation process of the ray tracing model and has presented an optimization design strategy for a specific heliostat field, which has a radius limit of 350m and is located at a latitude of 39.4°. This have increased its average annual power generation by 31.66% and per square meter power lightly.