Idea: Heliostat Feedback Steering System - (maby can steer a parabolic reflector too)

Also see my new video where I show a use with a parabolic dish mirror.

Here is an idea of how to possibly steer a heliostat mirror onto a fixed receiver/collector.

If anyone has built one (usually a basic "solar tracker" for a PV panel) that tracks the sun reasonably well using leds, photocells (ie. photoresistors) , or silicon photovoltaic cells, then that is the practically the same electronic sensor and steering mechanism in mind for this heliostat idea, except that it takes the sensors and places them near/on the collector/receiver/target - hopefully eliminating the more complex electronics necesssary to aim the sunlight onto the collector. The main reason is wholesale cost. This needs to be cheap for people to be interested, to save money, and possibly a "home kit" or do-it-yourself system to even make it cheaper.

I'm thinking that it may or may not need a basic "logic gate" (like AND, OR, etc) circuit/chip for the light/shade signals and combinations. Probably not, but it could enhance the system if needed.

What's the big deal about this? If could mean taking your 1500W solar air heater (what I had in mind when I thought of this idea...and a one heliostat system per feedback loop) and turning it into one that has between 1500W and3000W of free heat. Think of the other uses: solar photovoltaic electricity, solar water heating, solar lighting, solar cooking, solar drying, did I miss anything?

Using a fixed small mirror on the side of a parabolic dish, it can reflect the light to some sensors (obviously not at the focus, but out of the way of the light to the parabolic reflector) that can be used to determine how the dish should be steered. Perhaps an initial manual adjustment would be necessary at the start of each day to reduce the cost of the system.

It's always possible it's been published elsewhere, so I'll have to try to find where (ie. one thats not currently been placed on their own websiste, but one of unafiliated national publication, and dated and then known about), it seems to be possibly the simplest and cheapest electrical system possible without advanced computer control. If so, then at least this is my version/addition of it for the green energy community here on YouTube.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• heliostat
• solar
• energy
• air
• heater