Analytical investigation of wind loads on heliostats

Bendjebbas, H.; Abbas, M.; Abdellah-el-hadj, A.

Rеvuе des Energies Renouvelables
Volume 19, Numéro 4, Pages 517-524
2016-12-31

Analytical Investigation Of Wind Loads On Heliostats

Authors : Bendjebbas H. . Abbas M. . Abdellah-el-hadj A. .

Abstract

Applications of Heliostats for solar power tower plants increased in the recent years. Most of the solar power tower plants installed are on flat terrain and they may be subjected to wind loads. In the present study, a refined method for calculating the wind loads on heliostats is presented, here called the Sandia 92-method. The first step in the Sandia-92 method is to adjust the required wind speed value to the wind speed at the center of the mirror array at a height H above ground. Hence, the performance of heliostats with different pedestal heights can be compared. The design of heliostat must be calculated in-field and the calculation of isolated heliostat wind loads should not be taken as a reference. Also, the presence of well studied fences reduces considerably wind loads on heliostats placed in the front rows.