Sensor arrangement and optimized tracking for CSP systems
AssigneeCambras GmbH
InventorLukas Kirscht
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Sensor arrangement for tracking a solar collector assembly, the sensor arrangement comprising a housing; said housing comprising an inclination sensor and a camera; said sensor arrangement comprising a shadow receiver; said shadow receiver being arranged and adapted to receive the full shadow of a solar system's receiver tube; wherein the camera and the shadow receiver are arranged such that the camera may sense the full width of the receiver tube's shadow on the shadow receiver.
Claims22
A sensor arrangement for tracking a solar collector assembly, the sensor arrangement comprising
- a housing comprising an inclination sensor and a camera;
- a shadow receiver arranged and adapted to receive a full shadow of a solar system receiver tube,
- wherein the camera and the shadow receiver are arranged such that the camera is adapted to sense a full width of a shadow of the solar system receiver tube on the shadow receiver,
- wherein the shadow receiver is attached to and extends from the housing or the shadow receiver is only partly contained in but extends from the housing, and
- wherein the camera is positioned at an angle to the shadow receiver, the angle being less than 90° or about 45°.
A sensor arrangement for tracking a solar collector assembly, the sensor arrangement comprising
- a housing comprising an inclination sensor and a camera;
- a shadow receiver arranged and adapted to receive a full shadow of a solar system receiver tube,
- wherein the camera and the shadow receiver are arranged such that the camera is adapted to sense a full width of a shadow of the solar system receiver tube on the shadow receiver,
- wherein the shadow receiver is attached to and extends from the housing or the shadow receiver is only partly contained in but extends from the housing,
- wherein the sensor arrangement comprises at least one or two side shields, wherein the side shield extends along at least the whole length and/or height of the housing, and wherein the side shield is spaced from the housing, and
- wherein the side shield is spaced from the housing by at least one spacer, and wherein, the spacer is made of or comprises a heat resisting material with low thermal conductivity.
A sensor arrangement for tracking a solar collector assembly, the sensor arrangement comprising
- a housing comprising an inclination sensor and a camera;
- a shadow receiver arranged and adapted to receive a full shadow of a solar system receiver tube,
- wherein the camera and the shadow receiver are arranged such that the camera is adapted to sense a full width of a shadow of the solar system receiver tube on the shadow receiver,
- wherein the shadow receiver is attached to and extends from the housing or the shadow receiver is only partly contained in but extends from the housing, and wherein the side shield comprises at least three, five, or seven slits.
A sensor arrangement for tracking a solar collector assembly, the sensor arrangement comprising
- a housing comprising an inclination sensor and a camera;
- a shadow receiver arranged and adapted to receive a full shadow of a solar system receiver tube,
- wherein the camera and the shadow receiver are arranged such that the camera is adapted to sense a full width of a shadow of the solar system receiver tube on the shadow receiver,
- wherein the shadow receiver is attached to and extends from the housing or the shadow receiver is only partly contained in but extends from the housing, and
- wherein the sensor housing comprises a thermal exchanger to cool and/or heat the camera and/or the inclination sensor and/or associated electronic components.
A sensor arrangement for tracking a solar collector assembly, the sensor arrangement comprising
- a housing comprising an inclination sensor and a camera;
- a shadow receiver arranged and adapted to receive a full shadow of a solar system receiver tube,
- wherein the camera and the shadow receiver are arranged such that the camera is adapted to sense a full width of a shadow of the solar system receiver tube on the shadow receiver,
- wherein the shadow receiver is attached to and extends from the housing or the shadow receiver is only partly contained in but extends from the housing, and
- wherein the sensor housing comprises a copper plate to conduct heat to the camera and/or the inclination sensor and/or associated electronic components, and wherein the sensor housing comprises structures to dissipate heat away from the camera and/or the inclination sensor and/or associated electronic components.
A sensor arrangement for tracking a solar collector assembly, the sensor arrangement comprising
- a housing comprising an inclination sensor and a camera;
- a shadow receiver arranged and adapted to receive a full shadow of a solar system receiver tube,
- wherein the camera and the shadow receiver are arranged such that the camera is adapted to sense a full width of a shadow of the solar system receiver tube on the shadow receiver,
- wherein the shadow receiver is attached to and extends from the housing or the shadow receiver is only partly contained in but extends from the housing, and
- wherein the housing comprises a main carrier onto which the camera and the inclination sensor are mounted.
A method for adjusting a solar collector assembly (SCA), for tracking the sun, the assembly comprising a sensor arrangement, the sensor arrangement comprising a housing comprising an inclination sensor and a camera;
- a shadow receiver arranged and adapted to receive a full shadow of a solar system receiver tube, wherein the camera and the shadow receiver are arranged such that the camera is adapted to sense a full width of a shadow of the solar system receiver tube on the shadow receiver, and wherein the shadow receiver is attached to and extends from the housing or the shadow receiver is only partly contained in but extends from the housing, the method comprising:
- thermally adjusting the sensor arrangement with the CSP system, wherein thermally adjusting the sensor arrangement includes continuously recording the position of the shadow entry on the shadow receiver for a test angular position of the SCA;
- continuously measuring the fluid inlet temperature and the fluid outlet temperature;
- calculating a temperature difference between the fluid inlet temperature and the fluid outlet temperature;
- providing a temperature difference profile based on the temperature difference;
- and
- storing the respective test angular position and/or the respective shadow entry camera pictures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.