Wave Front Sensor for Solar Concentrator Control

Abstract

This article is the culmination of research directed into finding a system to control the position of the focal spot of paraboloid concentrators for use in terrestrial and space solar concentration applications. After a brief introduction into the area of study, the article describes how a normal Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is modified for use in detecting and tracking the focal spot. The first experiment describes how the wavefront sensor is to be utilized in a solar application and shows the adjustment from lenslets to cylindrical mirrors on a thruster. Next, the paper details the analysis and development of the algorithms used in locating the focal spot on a thruster absorber utilizing a correlation method and an area centroid method. The article concludes with a paragraph on suitable future work.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 31, 2006
Accession Number
ADA467765

Entities

People

  • Joseph N. Beasley

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Charge Coupled Devices
  • Closed Loop Systems
  • Control Systems
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Correlation Techniques
  • Detectors
  • Energy Transfer
  • Heat Transfer
  • High Temperature
  • Pattern Recognition
  • Simulators
  • Spacecraft
  • Thrusters
  • Wavefronts

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects