Computer Programs for Solar Concentrator Focus Control (Preprint)

Abstract

This presentation describes two methods for imaging an absorber used as a new sensor in determining the location of the focal spot for a solar concentrator. The absorber is used as a sensor in both methods, but in slightly different ways. The first method developed is an optimization method inspired by Shack-Hartmann wave front sensing. This optimization utilizes masking and a correlation calculation to determine the error from the current image of the focal spot and the ideal or designed position of the focal spot. The second method still uses the absorber as a sensor but calculates area moments of the reflected sunlight on the tubing to calculate the current location of the focal spot.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 05, 2005
Accession Number
ADA441725

Entities

People

  • Joseph N. Beasley
  • Michael R. Holmes

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Algorithms
  • Charge Coupled Devices
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Detectors
  • Diameters
  • Light Sources
  • Military Research
  • Optimization
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Reflection
  • Solar Propulsion
  • Spacecraft
  • Thrusters
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electromagnetic Wave Scattering and Antenna Radiation Engineering
  • Geodesy
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.