Accurate component representation

Accurate representation of the heliostat's tracking mechanism is essential for maximizing the accuracy of the simulations, especially for large heliostat fields where the last rows of heliostats can be kilometers away from the receiver. Inadequate representation of the actual mechanics involved in the tracking system results in poor aiming accuracy and thus to misleading efficiency calculations, excessive spillage, wrong flux calculations, etc. Within Tonatiuh++, the possibility of representing accurately the tracking mechanism is provided. As an example, Figure below illustrates the heliostat design of CSIRO along with geometrical details related to its two axis tracking system.

The tracking system can be accurately represented in Tonatiuh++, as this gives the possibility of including all the parameters related to the actual mechanics. Figure below provides a close-up view of the Tonatiuh++ window where the user can set the exact geometrical characteristics of the tracking mechanism.

Figures that follow show the detailed heliostat geometry on different tracking positions. The frame of the heliostat along with the exact tracking components is loaded as an .obj file within Tonatiuh and the mirror facet is then attached on the frame. This procedure is taken care full automatically for the entire field by scripting. Notice that the actual tracking mechanics are moving in accordance with the heliostat tracking movement.