Heliostat vibrations can degrade optical pointing accuracy while fatiguing the structural components. This paper reports the use of structural dynamic measurements for design evaluation and monitoring of heliostat vibrations. A heliostat located at the National Solar Thermal Testing Facility (NSTTF) at Sandia Labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been instrumented to measure its modes of vibration, strain and displacements under wind loading. The information gained from these tests will be used to evaluate and improve structural models that predict the motions/deformations of the heliostat due to gravitational and dynamic wind loadings. These deformations can cause optical errors and motions that degrade the performance of the heliostat. The main contributions of this work include: (1) demonstration of the role of structural dynamic tests (also known as modal tests) to provide a characterization of the important dynamics of the heliostat structure as they relate to durability and optical accuracy, (2) the use of structural dynamic tests to provide data to evaluate and improve the accuracy of computer-based design models, and (3) the selection of sensors and data-processing techniques that are appropriate for long-term monitoring of heliostat motions.
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ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability
August 7–10, 2011
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Advanced Energy Systems Division and Solar Energy Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5468-6
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Structural Dynamics Testing and Analysis for Design Evaluation and Monitoring of Heliostats Available to Purchase
D. Todd Griffith,
D. Todd Griffith
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
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Adam C. Moya,
Adam C. Moya
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
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Clifford K. Ho,
Clifford K. Ho
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
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Patrick S. Hunter
Patrick S. Hunter
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
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D. Todd Griffith
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Adam C. Moya
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Clifford K. Ho
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Patrick S. Hunter
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Paper No:
ES2011-54222, pp. 567-576; 10 pages
Published Online:
March 13, 2012
Citation
Griffith, DT, Moya, AC, Ho, CK, & Hunter, PS. "Structural Dynamics Testing and Analysis for Design Evaluation and Monitoring of Heliostats." Proceedings of the ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability. ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Parts A, B, and C. Washington, DC, USA. August 7–10, 2011. pp. 567-576. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ES2011-54222
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