Solar collector system for solar thermal applications
A solar collector system includes a plurality of frames. Each frame includes at least a pair of spaced apart side members, a plurality of cross members connected to the side members, the cross members pivotally moveable from a shipping configuration to a deployed configuration wherein in the deployed configuration, each cross member is positioned relative to an adjacent cross member with a predetermined angle, and a plurality of stantions extending from the frames. The solar collector system further includes a plurality of heliostats, each heliostat mounted to one of the stantions, and a plurality of ballasts coupled to the frames, each ballast having a lower surface contacting the ground without substantially penetrating the ground to maintain a position of the frames on the ground.
1. A solar collector system comprising:
a frame comprising at least a pair of side members spaced apart from each other in a first direction, and a plurality of cross members connected to the pair of side members;
a plurality of stantions extending from the frame in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
a plurality of heliostats, first heliostats of the plurality of heliostats being arranged in a first row and each mounted to a corresponding one of the stantions at a first side of the frame, second heliostats of the plurality of heliostats being arranged in a second row and each mounted to a corresponding one of the stantions at a second side of the frame, the second row being spaced apart from the first row in the first direction; and
a plurality of ballasts coupled to the frame and configured to maintain a position of the frame on the ground,
wherein each cross member is pivotable relative to at least one of the side members about an axis extending in the second direction between a shipping configuration and a deployed configuration.
2. The solar collector system of claim 1 , wherein each cross member is pivotable relative to an adjacent cross member between the shipping configuration and the deployed configuration, wherein in the deployed configuration, adjacent cross members are oriented relative to each other at a predetermined angle.
3. The solar collector system of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge for pivotally connecting pairs of the cross members, the hinge comprising:
a first portion configured to receive a first cross member;
a second portion pivotally connected to the first portion and configured to receive a second cross member;
wherein the first portion and the second portion are moveable relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first and second cross members are oriented relative to each other at a predetermined angle in the open position; and
wherein the first portion and the second portion engage in the open position to maintain the first portion relative to the second portion at the predetermined angle.
4. The solar collector system of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge for pivotally connecting pairs of the cross members, the hinge comprising:
a plate connected to a first cross member and having at least one guide slot configured to receive a projection of a second cross member pivotally coupled to the plate;
wherein pivoting the second cross member relative to the plate guides the projection in the guide slot; and
wherein the first cross member and the second cross member form a predetermined angle when the projection is guided in the guide slot.
5. The solar collector system of claim 1 , wherein stantions of the plurality of stantions are positioned on opposing side members of the frame in a staggered formation.
6. The solar collector system of claim 1 , wherein each stantion is attached to one of the side members.
7. The solar collector system of claim 1 , wherein each stantion is mounted on a corresponding one of the ballasts.
8. The solar collector system of claim 1 , wherein each stantion is pivotally connected to a pair of adjacent cross members.
9. The solar collector system of claim 1 , wherein the side members are connected to the cross members in a space between opposing stantions.
10. The solar collector system of claim 1 , further comprising a height adjustment and mounting mechanism associated with each ballast, wherein the frame is coupled to each ballast with the height adjustment and mounting mechanism.
11. The solar collector system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the side members and the cross members comprises hollow tubes configured to receive electrical components.
12. The solar collector system of claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning mechanism comprising:
a chassis having guide elements configured to engage a guide portion of each side member to traverse along the frame between the side members; and
a plurality of cleaning devices mounted on the chassis and configured to clean optical surfaces of each heliostat as the chassis traverses between the side members.
13. A solar collector system comprising:
a plurality of frames, each frame comprising:
at least a pair of side members spaced apart from each other in a first direction;
a plurality of cross members connected to the side members, the cross members pivotally moveable from a shipping configuration to a deployed configuration wherein in the deployed configuration, each cross member is positioned relative to an adjacent cross member with a predetermined angle; and
a plurality of stantions extending from the frame in a second diction perpendicular to the first direction,
wherein each cross member is pivotable relative to at least one of the side members about an axis extending in the second direction between the shipping configuration and the deployed configuration;
a plurality of heliostats, wherein, in each of the frames, first heliostats of the plurality of heliostats are arranged in a first row and each mounted to a corresponding one of the stantions at a first side of the frame, and second heliostats of the plurality of heliostats are arranged in a second row and each mounted to a corresponding one of the stantions at a second side of the frame, the second row being spaced apart from the first row in the first direction; and
a plurality of ballasts coupled to the frames, each ballast having a lower surface contacting the ground without substantially penetrating the ground to maintain a position of the frames on the ground.
14. The solar collector system of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the side members and cross members of each frame is connectable to at least one of the side members and cross members of another frame to connect the frames.
15. The solar collector system of claim 13 , further comprising a hinge for pivotally connecting pairs of the cross members, the hinge comprising:
a first portion configured to receive a first cross member;
a second portion pivotally connected to the first portion and configured to receive a second cross member;
wherein the first portion and the second portion are moveable relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first and second cross members are oriented relative to each other at a predetermined angle in the open position; and
wherein the first portion and the second portion engage in the open position to substantially maintain the first portion relative to the second portion at the predetermined angle.
16. The solar collector system of claim 15 , further comprising a hinge for pivotally connecting pairs of the cross members, the hinge comprising:
a plate connected to a first cross member and having at least one guide slot configured to receive a projection of a second cross member pivotally coupled to the plate;
wherein pivoting the second cross member relative to the plate guides the projection in the guide slot; and
wherein the first cross member and the second cross member form a predetermined angle when the projection is guided in the guide slot.
17. The solar collector system of claim 13 , wherein stantions of the plurality of stantions are positioned on opposing side members of the frames in a staggered formation.
18. The solar collector system of claim 13 , wherein each stantion is attached to one of the side members.
19. The solar collector system of claim 13 , wherein each stantion is mounted on a corresponding one of the ballasts.
20. The solar collector system of claim 13 , wherein each stantion is pivotally connected to a pair of adjacent cross members.
21. The solar collector system of claim 13 , wherein the side members are connected to the cross members in a space between opposing stantions.
22. The solar collector system of claim 13 , further comprising a height adjustment and mounting mechanism associated with each ballast, wherein the frame is coupled to each ballast with the height adjustment and mounting mechanism.
23. The solar collector system of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the side members and the cross members comprises hollow tubes configured to receive electrical components.
24. The solar collector system of claim 13 , further comprising a cleaning mechanism comprising:
a chassis having guide elements configured to engage a guide portion of each side member to traverse along the frame between the side members; and
a plurality of cleaning devices mounted on the chassis and configured to clean optical surfaces of each heliostat as the chassis traverses between the side members.