Solar concentrator array with individually adjustable elements

A concentrator apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of optical elements positionable to concentrate light;
• a support structure, wherein each of the optical elements has an adjustable orientation with respect to the support structure;
• a plurality of adjustment mechanisms, such that actuation of a selected adjustment mechanism changes the orientation of an optical element corresponding to the selected adjustment mechanism;
• and
• a traveling actuator configured to sequentially actuate a plurality of the selected adjustment mechanisms.

A method of concentrating solar radiation on a collector using a plurality of reflectors, the method comprising:

• moving a traveling actuator to a first selected one of the plurality of reflectors;
• rotating a first turnbuckle corresponding to the first selected reflector, thereby changing an orientation of the first selected reflector in a first plane;
• rotating a second turnbuckle corresponding to the first selected reflector, thereby changing an orientation of the first selected reflector in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane;
• moving the traveling actuator to a second selected one of the plurality of reflectors;
• rotating a third turnbuckle corresponding to the second selected reflector, thereby changing an orientation of the second selected reflector in the first plane;
• and
• rotating a fourth turnbuckle corresponding to the second selected reflector, thereby changing an orientation of the second selected reflector in the second plane.

A method of concentrating optical energy onto a collector, the method comprising:

• positioning a traveling actuator to engage a first optical element;
• moving the first optical element from a first orientation to a second orientation using the traveling actuator, wherein the first optical element reflects more optical energy onto a collector when positioned in the second orientation as compared to the first orientation;
• positioning the traveling actuator to engage a second optical element;
• and
• moving the second optical element from a first orientation to a second orientation using the traveling actuator, wherein the second optical element reflects more optical energy onto the collector when positioned in the second orientation as compared to the first orientation.

A concentrator system comprising:

• a first optical element tiltable with respect to at least one axis via a first adjustment structure;
• a second optical element tiltable with respect to at least one axis via a second adjustment structure, wherein the second optical element is tiltable independently of the first optical element;
• and
• a traveling actuator configured to travel to engage the first adjustment structure to tilt the first optical element to a first desired orientation, and to travel to engage the second adjustment structure to tilt the second optical element to a second desired orientation.