Modernization of an automated controlling system for heliostat field of big solar furnace

Resumo

This article presents the results of scientific–technical and engineering works on modernizing a big solar furnace (BSF) developed by the Institute of Materials Science, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including works concerning the development of an automated control system for heliostats and the development of microprocessor local control systems for each individual heliostat that are managed by a mainframe computer with the relevant software, highly-precise sensors of the rotation angles of heliostat axes, and digital sun-tracking sensors. The system under consideration provides for a two-way command and data exchange between all local systems and the mainframe computer. This exchange will make it possible to perform the software control of the operation of each individual heliostat, including sun tracking based on a solar sensor, tracking based on mirror turning, and direct positioning, as well as to continuously monitor the heliostat field state, perform self-diagnostics, and maintain an automated heliostat field operation log. This article also describes works on modernizing mechanisms for heliostat rotation and motion control: the replacement of brush-type dc motors by more reliable asynchronous motors with inverters, installation of angular sensors, and reconstruction of rotation mechanisms.