Computer Modelling of Heliostat Fields by Ray-Tracing Techniques: Simulating Shading and Blocking Effects

09/03/2025

In this work, solar concentrating heliostat fields are modelled using computer ray-tracing techniques to investigate the parameters controlling the optical efficiency of those solar facilities. First, it is explained how the non-trivial problem of heliostat blocking and shading can be efficiently handled in ray-tracing simulations. These numerical techniques were implemented in our Light Analysis Modelling (LAM) software, which was then used to study realistic heliostat fields for a range of different geometries. Two locations were chosen, with the highest and the lowest latitudes, from the SFERA-III EU list of solar concentrating facilities with heliostat fields: Jülich (Germany) and Protaras (Cyprus). The results indicate that shading and blocking can substantially reduce the radiation collected during the year (up to 20%). Accurate figures of merit are proposed to quantify the thermal efficiency of a heliostat field, independently of its size. Increasing the tower height mostly reduces blocking (especially when the sun is high and most energy is collected), while increasing the distance between heliostats or increasing the ground slope mostly reduces shading (especially when the sun is low and little energy is collected).

Autores da comunidade :

• 

  J

  José Carlos Garcia Pereira

  ist12604

  Afiliações e fontes

  IST > DEQ

  Departamento de Engenharia Química

• 

  L

  Luís Manuel Guerra da Silva Rosa

  ist11630

  Afiliações e fontes

  IST > LAETA

  Laboratório Associado de Energia, Transportes e Aeronáutica

  IST > IDMEC

  Instituto de Engenharia Mecânica

  IST > ICEMS

  Instituto de Ciência e Engenharia de Materiais e Superfícies

  IST > DEM

  Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica

VoR - Versão publicada

MDPI

https://www.mdpi.com/3217030

Applied Sciences

2953

15

6

2076-3417

10.3390/app15062953

001453466200001

mechanical-engineering - Engenharia Mecânica

Palavras-chave

• heliostat field layout
• heliostat modelling
• heliostat shading and blocking
• optical modelling
• ray-tracing simulations

eng - Inglês

CC-BY - CC-BY